[Intro text]
Botanical Information
Taxonomy
Calendula officinalis
Calendula is also known as pot marigold.
History
Physical Description
Annual plant that grows about 18-inches tall. In my garden they don’t usually grow straight up; more of a laying-down-then-up growth. Flowers are typically yellow, orange, or a combination of yellow & orange. Flowering time is from late spring to midsummer when they take a break for the heat. They start back up when in cools down, until the frost hits.
Varieties & Cultivars
Categories or Types of [plantname]
Colors Available
Varieties (link to ../category/cultivars/tag/[plantname])
Growth Requirements
Climate & Temperature Requirements
Air Temperature
Soil Temperature
Humidity
Day Length or Light Requirements
Calendula likes full sun locations
Site Conditions Favored
Soil Requirements
Soil Texture
Calendula likes well-drained soil
pH
Nutrient Requirements
Propagation
Methods of propagation
Seed
- Sow calendula seeds in early spring, indoors or out.
- Sow seeds again in July for a fall bloom.
Division
Cuttings
Transplanting or Potting Up
Seed Saving
Calendula seeds are very easy to save. They have the weirdest seeds I’ve ever seen – they are big, too, so it makes them easy to gather.
Planting Out
Bed Prep & Soil Amendments
Bed Spacing
Plant or thin to 12 inches apart.
Planting Depth
Alternative Bed Methods
Container Gardening
Routine Cultivation & Maintenance
Water Requirements
Fertilization Recommendations
Mulching & Weeding
Pinching or Pruning & Dividing
Support
Winterizing
Companion Planting
Helpful Companions
Harmful Companions
Companion to..
Pests, Diseases & Problems
Common Pests
Slugs don’t seem to be a problem for calendula
Common Diseases
Symptoms
Whole Plant
Leaves
Stem/Trunk
Flowers
Fruit
Roots
Harvesting & Storage
Edible Parts of the Plant
- Calendula flowers have a slightly bitter taste, but are so brightly colored that the taste is over-looked
Yield
Days to Harvest / Harvest Timing
Harvest Methods
Storage of harvest
Fresh
Canned
Frozen
Pickled
Dried
Dry individual calendula petals on paper towel, making sure the petals don’t touch, then store in a moisture-tight container
Cooking
Nutritional Benefits & Values
Toxicity
Cooking
Preparation
Cooking Methods
Recipe Ideas (link to …/category/recipes/tag/[plantname])
- Salads
- Soups
- Butter
- Rice
- Stews
- Poultry
- Tea
- 2 T chopped fresh petals (or 1 T dried)
- 4 C water
- Steep 5-10 minutes
- strain
- serve
- Saffron substitute: often used as a substitute for its bright orange color
Resources
Information for this article was taken from these sources. (link to …/category/resources/tag/[plantname])