Packet of 50 pot marigold seeds. Bright orange flowers last all summer long and attract a wide range of insects.
Pot marigold is one of the common names given to calendula, but they’re also sometimes referred to as the common marigold or the English marigold. Calendula officinalis, is its latin name and it’s a flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae.
Unlike French Marigolds, Pot Marigolds survive frosts or freezing temperatures, so they can be sown in early spring and are okay to plant out before the risk of frost is fully over.
Sow calendula seed and look forward to colourful flowers the same year. Like a lot of hardy annuals, calendula likes a sunny spot and well-drained soil, but the soil doesn’t need to be rich. They’re loved by bees, they make great cut flowers and the petals are edible, too.
They’re a great way to fill any gappy bits in borders, or you can sow them in the vegetable patch. A row of calendula here and there in between your vegetables helps attract pollinating insects, and can lure troublesome aphids away from precious crops.
Pot Marigold is a hardy annual meaning you can plant early and sow them in early spring or even in Autumn. Flowers are also edible and are a great addition to salads. Each packet has a hand-stamped front and printed back with sowing instructions.
Calendula can be sown directly where you’d like them to flower. Rake the soil so it breaks down into fine crumbs and then mark shallow 0.5cm deep rows to sow along. If the soil’s dry, water along the rows first so the seeds have immediate moisture. Then sow the seed thinly along your rows - calendula’s curvy C-shaped seeds are large enough to handle individually. Cover the rows back over and water again. Once they’ve germinated you may need to thin out the seedlings so each has ample room to grow – aim for 20cm gaps between each plant.
Sow: March to May / September to October
Harvest: June to October
