Calendulas (Calendula officinalis), or pot marigolds, are hardy annuals with daisy-like flowers in cream, yellow, and orange.
- Grow them in full sun for the most flowers, or in light shade. Ordinary well-drained garden soil is fine; soggy or heavily fertilized soil is not.
- Sow outdoors in spring when the soil can be worked, or start indoors about five or six weeks before your usual final frost.
- Use the seed packet for depth and spacing because compact and tall cultivars differ.
- Water young plants while they establish. Once growing, water when the upper soil begins to dry rather than on a fixed timetable.
- Remove old flower heads to prolong bloom, or leave several to mature if you want to save seed or allow self-seeding.
Calendula has a long history of culinary and herbal use, but this is a growing page, not medical advice. Never taste a garden flower unless a knowledgeable adult has positively identified it and knows it was grown without unsuitable sprays.