Growing Calendula from Seed - How to

 Although it is late June, it is not too late to plant calendula seed and enjoy the flowers.  Calendula is an annual that grows well from seed and germinates in just a few days, especially when it is warm.  The bright yellow and orange flowers are edible and can be used to make salves and lotions because the petals are good for the skin.  We have featured this plant many times, both in an Herb of the Week post, as well as several posts on using it as an edible flower.

Now it is time to show you how easy it is to grow this herb from seed.

 Calendula seed is small, hook-shaped and kinda spiky looking.   They have a high germination rate and iff you get heirloom seed, the plants will produce enough seed for you to use year after year to grow more.

You can sow them directly in the ground, or in pots to transplant later.  I start seed in pots becasue I have a rabbit issue and they eat new seedlings, so I give everything a head start in a pot.

It only takes about 7 to 14 days to germinate when sown in soil that is 68 to 72 degrees F (20 to 22 degrees C.) To encourage germination, ensure the seeds are covered with about a seed thickness of soil, so about 1/8 to 1/4 inch and kept moist, but not water logged. These were thickly sown, so they need to be thinned.

Seedlings should appear quickly and as long as you keep them consistantly moist and avoid too much direct sunlight until they are ready for transplant in about 3 weeks.

Calendula needs about 6 hours of sunlight once the seedlings emerge.

Once the seedlings have developed their second set of true leaves, they can be transplanted.  

I use a bead sorter  to remove the seedlings gently from the soil, then tease the roots apart and use a pencil to poke a hole in new soil in a new location.

In their final location they should be spaced 8 to 12 inches apart within a row with rows about 18 inches apart. 

Thinning is very important when the seeds are sown closely to encourage good airflow and help prevent disease. They will fill in naturally, so you do not want them to be too crowded to start, or they will not stay healthy.

I love them in containers, so I will place them in terra cotta pots, hanging baskets or other decorative planters.

These square post planters are my favorite showcase for calendula.  You can see how they fill in with greenery, then begin to bloom.  And I get to enjoy those flowers until frost, which has seems to arrive later and later each year.

So go find some calendula seed and start a sunny little spot in your garden soon.  And remember, they are edible and great for beauty products also. For more details on the habits and used of Calendula, check out the Herb of the Week post.