How to grow calendula from seeds at home?

If a flower is not only beautiful, but also useful, it will definitely find its place in the garden. It is possible to grow the well-known calendula from seeds by choosing the right planting time. It is also important to create conditions for the plant in which it will bloom profusely and for a long time.

Description of the plant

Calendula officinalis (or marigold) is widespread and cultivated throughout the temperate zone. It is light-requiring, cold-resistant and unpretentious to conditions. The plant is an annual, erect, in different varieties the height ranges from 20 to 70 cm. The medicinal raw materials are inflorescences - baskets. They are yellow or orange in color. Along with the usual form of flowers, there is a terry calendula. The plant blooms from June to autumn frosts. The fruits ripen in late summer - early autumn. Propagated by seeds only.

Dates of planting calendula seeds

You can grow calendula from seeds by sowing in open ground or for seedlings. In the second case, it will bloom earlier. Seeds of marigolds are sown in open ground in two periods: in spring, when the soil thaws and dries up, and in autumn, before the onset of stable frosts.

In the middle lane, the optimal dates for spring planting are the second and third decades of April. The soil is considered ready if the thrown clod of earth crumbles.

Autumn planting of calendula in the ground is carried out when night frosts become regular, the soil has not yet frozen, but warm days are no longer expected.

If you sow calendula before the onset of cold weather, the seeds will have time to hatch and then the seedlings will freeze. In order not to be mistaken in the timing, you can sow into the prepared grooves after freezing the upper layer, filling it with earth, which was prepared in advance and kept in a warm place.

The timing of planting calendula for outdoor cultivation may vary from region to region. An inexperienced gardener can check them with neighbors in a summer cottage.

Marigolds are sown on seedlings from late February to early April. After planting, the containers are watered with settled water and covered so that the earth does not dry out. Several times a day, the shelter is removed to ventilate. After the emergence of shoots, the shelter is removed. Seedlings require bright lighting and moderate watering. A few days before planting in open ground, the seedlings begin to harden - they are taken out into the street at a temperature of 12-16 degrees. Despite the fact that the plant is cold-resistant, hardened seedlings will grow faster and will hurt less after transplanting.

Rules for planting calendula in the ground

If an inexperienced summer resident has questions - how to plant calendula seeds in open ground - then these rules are no different from planting other cold-resistant annuals - asters, marigolds, cornflowers, sweet peas. To decorate flower beds with annuals, they can be sown at the same time.

For better flowering, marigolds should be allocated the most illuminated places.

Before planting calendula, it is advisable to fertilize the soil. In autumn, they are introduced into the ground per square meter:

• 3-4 kg of compost;
• a tablespoon of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers;
• coarse sand for heavy clay soils.

Potash fertilizers can be replaced with ash.

Seeds are sown in the grooves to decorate the ridges and point-to-point for flower beds. In flower beds, the distance between seeds should be 8-10 cm; for single plantings in flower beds, one plant requires an area of ​​20-30 cm2. Seeds are sown to a depth of 2-3 cm. From a greater depth, it will be more difficult for seeds to germinate. Spring plantings are watered with warm water, in autumn the seeds are left in dry ground. The first shoots appear in 5-7 days, and after a month the seedlings can be thinned out if necessary. The ripped seedlings are transplanted to a new place. Calendula easily tolerates a transplant even during flowering.

In any photo with calendula flowers, you can see that healthy plants grow freely, not thickened, each is illuminated by the sun's rays. You also need to cut the weeds on time.

Thickened planting, over-feeding, and long-term cultivation in one place increase the risk of black leg disease, spotting and powdery mildew.

Plant care

Since the plant is unpretentious, after planting calendula, care in the open field consists only in periodic watering, weeding and feeding. If fertilizers were introduced into the soil in advance, then you need to feed with caution, not exceeding the amount. At the beginning of the season, you can fertilize the marigolds with nitrogen to build up green mass. It is introduced in the form of a liquid urea solution for spraying or watered at the root. You can use a diluted 1 in 10 solution of mullein, bird droppings, or nettle infusion.

At the beginning of flowering, plants can be sprayed with a complex fertilizer containing boron. This trace mineral contributes to longer and more luxuriant flowering.

Collection of medicinal raw materials and seeds

Marigolds will bloom longer if fading inflorescences are removed in a timely manner. But, if calendula is planted as a medicinal plant, then you need to pick off the flowers in the phase of full disclosure of the flower. It is best to do this in dry weather.

Calendula seeds ripen in late summer. They are large, gray-brown in color, resembling the letter "C" in appearance. Peduncles with seeds are cut off and laid out to dry in a dark place with good ventilation. After drying, they are winded and kept in cloth or paper bags in a dry room.

What are the benefits of calendula in the garden

The whole plant secretes phytoncides, which, if they do not destroy the pest, then scare it away. So, planting marigolds can clear strawberry beds from nematodes. Another calendula in the garden helps against pests such as:

• bear,
• asparagus rattle fly,
• caterpillars of a hawk moth butterfly.

The green mass of the plant can be plowed into the soil, using it as a green manure. This operation heals the earth from late blight nightshade and nematodes. When growing calendula from seed for green manure, the best planting times are early spring and August.

In spring, calendula is sown on green mass before winter plantings of garlic, onions, carrots, and at the end of summer - to prepare the soil for the next season.

If you follow these simple recommendations, bright sunny calendula flowers will delight you all summer and will undoubtedly bring many benefits.

Planting calendula seedlings in the ground - video

Calendula is one of the oldest garden annuals. Translated from Latin "calendae" means the first day of the month. In the people, this flower is called "Marigold" because of the great similarity of seeds with a nail or claw.

Gardeners appreciate Calendula not only for its unpretentiousness, ease of cultivation, abundant flowering, but also for its medicinal properties. Many centuries ago, the beneficial properties of this plant were discovered. It was used not only in folk medicine, but also in cooking as a spice.

Appearance of Calendula

Calendula belongs to the Astrov family.The height of the plant is 40-60 cm. Although the stems of Calendula are thick, they are very fragile. Large leaves are lanceolate. Depending on the type of inflorescence, it can be simple, semi-double or double. The diameter of each flower ranges from 5 cm to 12 cm. As a rule, the inflorescences of Calendula are orange in color, but you can also find yellow, cream or lemon flowers with a dark brown center.

The smell of Calendula is unusual, specific, but it cannot be said that it is unpleasant.

Decorative value of Calendula

Calendula can decorate any garden plot, flower garden. It can be planted in a group, for example, against the background of green grass lawns or multi-colored flower beds, or in rows in rabatki. Orange flowers of Calendula are perfectly combined with plants, the inflorescences of which have a blue-blue color (Ageratum, Lobelia, Forget-me-nots, etc.)

The undersized Calendula can decorate balconies, it is good in beddings and rockeries. Its bright flowers are like the sun - they send us their warm rays every day.

You can use Calendula for cutting. In a vase, the flowers remain without fading for 10 days.

How to grow Calendula from seeds outdoors?

Growing Calendula from seeds is not difficult at all. It is worth sowing it once, as the plant begins to multiply by self-sowing. After several years of growing Calendula, some gardeners even begin to fight it as a weed, as its seeds begin to grow in different places in the garden.

In open ground, seeds are sown in April or before winter - in mid-October. Before sowing, the site is dug up, if necessary, fertilizers are applied. Although Calendula grows in different soil, but in order to achieve bright inflorescences, abundant flowering, it is better that the soil is loose and nutritious. To do this, before starting digging, humus (3-4 kg per 1 sq. M) should be added to the soil, as well as 1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate. After that, the soil is dug up, leveled, moistened, and only after that the seeds are sown.

The seeds are placed at a depth of 2 cm, the spacing between them should be 20 cm, and the distance between the rows should be about 30 cm. The first shoots appear in a week. When they grow up a little, they will need to be thinned out. Calendula will bloom in 2-2.5 months from the day of sowing the seeds.

Growing seedlings of Calendula

In order for Calendula to bloom as early as possible, it can be grown through seedlings. This method is most effective for undersized Calendula. Growing calendula seedlings from seeds

Sowing of seeds is done at the end of March. Seeds can be sown in seedling boxes, but it is better to take small containers, for example, cups - it is easier to remove seedlings from them without damaging the roots.

The optimum air temperature for growing seedlings is 18-20ºC. The main care for Calendula seedlings is timely watering. It is advisable to feed them during this period with a weak solution of complex mineral fertilizers. Top dressing is carried out once every 15 days.

Despite the fact that Calendula is a frost-resistant plant, nevertheless, several weeks before transplanting seedlings into open ground, they will need to be hardened by taking them out daily to a cool room, and preferably to fresh air. First, the seedlings are taken out for a short period of time, gradually increasing their residence time.

As soon as the seedling reaches the phase of 5-6 true leaves, it must be planted in a permanent place with a distance of 30x30 between the seedlings.

How to care for Calendula?

Calendula is a moisture-loving plant. In dry weather, it is recommended to water it 2-3 times a week. In order for the flowering to be abundant, it is necessary to constantly tear off the faded inflorescences - this will contribute to the formation of new flowers, and, consequently, the preservation of the decorative effect of the plant.You should also not forget about weeding, loosening the soil.

Many gardeners recommend planting Calendula among vegetable crops, bushes of garden strawberries, among garlic and onions. The flower will protect them from harmful insects - ticks, butterflies, onion nematodes.

Attention! Calendula should not be planted next to basil and radishes, since the substances secreted by the root system of the flower have a bad effect on these crops.

Sometimes Calendula is affected by fungal diseases such as black spot, powdery mildew. At the first signs of a disease, the plant must be urgently treated with a fungicide designed to combat these diseases.

Calendula is an undemanding and rather easy-to-care plant that can not only decorate any summer cottage, but also become a folk healer. Calendula is used for medicinal and decorative purposes. The colossal variety of varieties makes it possible to pick up calendula flowers that will improve the appearance of the flower bed and add new colors. You just need to devote a little time to the plant, and then it will delight you for many years.

Types and varieties of calendula

Calendula or marigold is an annual herb that belongs to the Aster family. There are twenty types of plants. The most popular ones are:

• medicinal - the only species that can be grown at home as an ornamental and medicinal plant;
• two-color;
• field.

Calendula varieties are extremely diverse and include low-growing - up to 45 cm - plants, medium-sized - up to 60 cm, and tall - up to 85 cm. What does the calendula of popular varieties among gardeners look like?

• Pigmi is a plant up to 15 cm in height. Small double flowers are colored apricot, golden, cream or orange.
• Calypso is a low-growing variety up to 30 cm in height. The flowers are large, can be bright orange or golden orange.
• The green heart is a plant up to 60 cm in height. Small flowers are yellow, pale orange or bright orange.
• Radio is a plant up to 55 cm in height. Flowers of small diameter, hemispherical. They can be bright orange or golden yellow.
• Pacific Beauty is a tall plant up to 80 cm in height. Flowers are hemispherical in shape with a huge variety of shades.
• Orange Flamingo - a variety up to 60 cm in height. The flowers are small with an orange tint.

Where do you get the seeds?

You can buy seed material in almost every flower shop. In addition, you can order the variety you like in the online store or collect the seeds yourself. This is not a rare plant, so there will be no problems with buying seeds. The price of seeds depends on the distinctive features of the variety.

Choosing a landing site

Calendula loves light, but does not tolerate dry and hot weather. With a lack of light, the flowers will grow small, and the flowering period will be short. The most suitable place for planting calendula in the open field and caring for it in the future is considered to be a site in partial shade. The soil used to plant the plant should be fertile, nutritious, light and loose. Calendula loves moisture and grows well under optimal conditions. The area in which it will grow should be protected from strong winds, as they can harm and damage the flowers.

When to plant calendula in the ground?

It is best to plant seeds at the very beginning of spring or at the end of autumn - before winter. The main thing is that the soil meets the conditions described above. Sowing in late autumn will delight with early flowering. Calendula seedlings are planted in April, and a month later the seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place. Calendula is a cold-resistant plant that can withstand temperatures down to -5 degrees. It is best to keep the soil loose and crumbly.To check the condition of the soil, a lump of earth should be thrown up, if it disintegrated easily, this means that the seeds can be sown. Before planting seed, the soil is dug up and humus is added at the rate of 4 kg per 1 m² of land. The seeds are deepened into the ground by about one or two centimeters, the distance between the rows is made at least 30 cm. If all conditions are met, shoots will appear in ten days.

Growing marigold seedlings

This method is considered more troublesome, but it makes it possible to get the first flowers much faster. For seedlings, it is possible to use pots, wooden boxes, and containers, but small containers are best. In a flower shop, you can buy a versatile soil that will be saturated with nutrients. The prepared soil is poured into a container, small depressions are made and seeds are sown. Then it is covered with plastic wrap and placed in a room with an air temperature of 14-15 degrees. Seedlings will appear in seven days. As soon as the seedlings get stronger and five leaves appear, you can plant calendula in open ground, and caring for it in this case will not take much time. Before planting, the seedlings are tempered by exposing the container to the street for several hours. When growing undersized varieties, it is best to use the seedling method for faster ripening.

Features of plant care

Calendula, planting and caring for which in the open field does not require much effort, still requires adherence to some rules. For long flowering, you need to devote a little time to the plant:

• remove weeds regularly;
• to give the bushes splendor, the main stem of the plant should be pinched;
• when growing calendula for bouquets and cutting, this manipulation should not be carried out; the flowers will be large if there are few inflorescences.

Calendula, as a rule, rarely gets sick. In damp and cool weather, the plant is affected by powdery mildew, mucus and rot. To combat diseases and pests, the following measures are used:

• remove the diseased plant;
• the soil is treated with a disinfectant, you can use a solution of soda ash (50 g / 10 l of water), copper sulfate (300 g / 10 l of water).

For prevention, the plant must be sprayed with a fungicidal agent, weeds must be removed in a timely manner, do not overfeed with nitrogen, and transplanted to a new place every three years.

Top dressing and watering

Calendula, for which planting and maintenance in the open field is quite simple, needs frequent watering. During dry periods, it needs to be watered three to four times, and in normal times, once or twice a week. As a top dressing, you can use any complex fertilizer, which is applied once every fourteen days. Excess nitrogen fertilization causes small inflorescences.

Combination with other plants

The size of the calendula makes it possible to plant it in a living curb or a small fence framing low plants. It looks great up close with evergreen shrubs. The variety of colors will decorate the alpine slide and the Moorish lawn. Calendula can add a bright touch if planted next to dark colored plants. A low-growing calendula looks spectacular in hanging baskets or pots.

And with what plants can you plant calendula? Planting a plant next to vegetable crops will be useful, since calendula is an antiseptic for the soil in which it grows. It disinfects soil from root rot and other parasites, such as ants, raspberry flies, cabbage butterflies and other insects. In addition, calendula helps to increase immunity in plants growing nearby.

Seed collection

Calendula seeds are best harvested in the last month of summer. By this time, the flowering of calendula is coming to an end. To obtain seeds for subsequent planting, brown bolls are plucked, which are in a horizontal position. Collect them in warm, sunny weather. Then the seeds are dried and ventilated for a week in a dry room. They can then be placed in a paper bag and stored until planting.

Rules for the collection, drying and storage of calendula

For medicinal purposes, the entire ground part of the plant is used completely, and therefore many gardeners are wondering when to collect calendula. Grass and flowers are harvested during the flowering period, that is, from June until the first frost in October. Harvesting is carried out in warm, dry and clear weather, preferably at noon. The inflorescences are selected with fully blooming baskets and carefully cut with scissors or cut off by hand. During the whole daylight hours, leaves and stems are collected, which are cut off with a sharp knife or pruner. The collected raw materials are placed in pallets. Calendula is dried outdoors, protecting it from moisture and sun, in the attic or closed balcony. Vegetable raw materials are laid out in a thin layer on the material and periodically stirred up so that it dries well. Store the finished raw materials in cool and dry rooms.

Healing properties

Calendula is a plant that is widely used in folk medicine due to its significant number of medicinal properties. Quite often, calendula is used to treat diseases of the digestive tract, heart pathologies and diseases of the biliary tract. Tincture of calendula is used to rinse the mouth and treat sore throats. Calendula ointment and infusion are used to heal wounds. The tincture can also be used as a sedative. Calendula ointment is excellent for treating damage to the skin and surrounding tissue (eg, bruises, cuts, burns).

In folk cosmetology, the plant is used as a healing, soothing, tonic, and anti-inflammatory agent. In addition, calendula is used to make masks and compresses; they have a beneficial effect on the skin, improving its condition and color.

It is necessary to remember about contraindications. Pregnant women are not allowed to use calendula. Hypertensive patients also should not use medications from this plant, since the pressure can significantly decrease to dangerous values. Calendula should not be used in conjunction with other sedative medications.

Interesting Facts

• Queen of France Marguerite of Valois was very fond of calendula, so her chambers were decorated with bouquets of these beautiful flowers.
• The Queen of Navarre described calendula in her writings, admiring its magnificence.
• The Luxembourg Gardens, which is located in Paris, are decorated with a statue of Marguerite with a bouquet of calendula in her hands.
• The Welsh used calendula to determine the weather: if the flowers did not open in the morning, it means that it will be cloudy or rain, and in the sea there will be a storm.
• In China, this plant represents longevity.
• In India, calendula is a sacred plant.
• In the ancient Roman calendar, the calendula marked the first day of the month.
• In ancient Greece, the medicinal properties of the plant were used.
• In the Middle Ages, calendula was used as food. It was used for filling for pies, added to cereals and salads, and also prepared puddings.
• Calendula is considered a substitute for saffron.

Bright calendula flowers of different colors on a bright green background look very impressive. A flowering plant will look great in a single planting as well as in the center of the composition.

In many gardens in Russia, you can find such a plant as calendula. Outdoor planting and maintenance is usually straightforward. It is also grown in other countries of the northern region. Caring for this plant is not difficult. This flower is popularly called "marigolds". It belongs to the Aster family.Representatives of this family are widespread in the Mediterranean, Western Europe and Asia. In total, there are about 20 species of different flowers related to calendula. Among them are both annual and perennial plants.

Besides for beauty, marigolds can be planted for other needs. So, these flowers have medicinal properties. The ancient Greeks knew about them. In addition, the herb was used as a spice and added to various dishes.

Description of the flower

Calendula is a herbaceous plant whose stems are covered with a tough downy. Flowers growing on it are collected in apical baskets. Their color usually ranges from yellow to orange. The leaves of the plant can have completely different shapes, but most often they are elongated, arranged in 2-3 rows on the stem. The flowering period is up to 3 months and can last from June to September. At the same time, the flower bears fruit abundantly.

Seeds can germinate in the soil even after 5 years from the moment they were harvested, without even requiring special care. The flower got its name precisely due to the shape of its seeds, which in their appearance resemble the claws of a predatory beast.

Medicinal properties of the flower

Calendula is used for the treatment and prevention of many diseases, therefore it was included in the top ten most cultivated medicinal crops that do not require special care. You can find this type of herbs in any pharmacy around the world.

Interestingly, the planting of calendula as a medicine began much earlier than as an ornamental plant. From ancient times to the present day, this flower has been widely used in folk and traditional medicine.

The most useful properties are dried "marigold" baskets, they contain the following substances:

• carotenoids;
• bitter substances;
• organic acids;
• vitamin C;
• provitamin A;
• proteins and many other useful substances that help not only to heal and take care of the sick, but also to maintain the body in a healthy state.

Due to this composition, the flowers have bactericidal, wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties. They are prescribed for diseases of the liver, intestines, stomach and other organs of the digestive system. They are also prescribed as an additional substance for heart disease and cancer.

Seed collection

You can buy calendula seeds at any store that sells a variety of garden supplies. But if there are already these flowers on the site, then it is not necessary to buy them. It is enough to walk around the site. When? In the period from late August to early September, it is worth enriching yourself with seeds, which can later be planted. By this time, all the petals have fallen off and only the core, full of small "marigolds", remains. One flower can contain up to 15 seeds, with which it is planted in the ground.

The calendula seeds on the stem remain moist and must be dried thoroughly. They will last longer when they get rid of excess moisture. To do this, it is enough to place them in a cardboard box or on a dry newspaper. Store seedlings in a paper bag in a dry and ventilated place.

A medicinal decoction can be prepared from some of the seeds obtained to take care of a sick person, and some can be planted in order to harvest the “harvest” for the next year.

There are two ways to plant by seed:

1. for seedlings;
2. planting calendula in open ground.

Some, before planting flowers in the garden or in a flower bed, let them germinate at home. The rest, and most of them, sow seeds directly into the open ground, skipping the stage with seedlings.

Each of these methods has its own characteristics, therefore, you should better consider both options.

Growing seedlings

This type of landing is a little more difficult than the one that will be described below. But if you decide to plant this way, then the flowering will turn out to be more even, and even additional care is not required.Therefore, this method is suitable for those who want to grow marigolds precisely as an ornamental plant. In addition, it will allow you to most effectively grow undersized calendula varieties.

When are flowers sown for seedlings? Towards the end of March, some of the varieties can be sown in early April. Small wooden containers or special plastic seedling pots are suitable for planting. What care is needed and when is it worth watering the seeds? This should be done as needed. Within 6-7 days after the planting was carried out, sprouts should hatch.

Advice

For faster growth, it is worth observing the optimum temperature. Marigolds love when the air around them does not exceed +14 - + 15 ° in temperature.

Calendula can be planted in open ground when the flower grows up and gets stronger. To determine this, it is enough to count the number of large leaves on the plant. If their number has exceeded 5, then it's time to transplant.

Planting calendula seeds in open ground

As a rule, marigolds begin to sow closer to the beginning of autumn. It is best done in early September or late August. If it is decided to plant in spring, then this can be done as soon as the soil is ready for planting. To check this, you need to take it into a fist and squeeze it, after which the resulting lump must be thrown from a height of a meter. If the soil crumbles easily, then sowing can begin.

Before planting a flower, open ground must be dug up and fertilized. For this, humus is suitable, which must be applied in a proportion of 3 kg per 1 m2 of soil.

Advice

In addition to humus, you can also use some types of fertilizers. So, a solution with potassium sulfate, superphosphate and urea can be poured into the ground. Each substance needs 1 spoon per 1.5 liters of water. This solution is enough for 1 m2 of soil.

Fertilized soil is well dug up and leveled. After all procedures, sowing can begin. Experts advise planting marigolds in rows. To do this, it is enough to draw shallow grooves in the area where the sowing will be performed. Their depth should not exceed 2 cm. This is necessary to make it easier for the seedlings to overcome the soil layer. The distance between the grooves should not be less than 30 cm, since after the flowers grow, they can become cramped.

So, caring for calendula in the open field is not difficult: for optimal plant development, only timely watering is needed. Planting this flower is also easy, it takes root well in a suitable earthen mixture.

"Marigolds" will decorate any suburban area. And thanks to their medicinal properties, they can be used as a folk remedy.