Calendula
Dates below are counted from the average last spring frost or the average first fall frost. Enter a ZIP in the calendar for NOAA 1991–2020 station averages, or pick a zone and use the zone table.
When to plant
Soil and site
Average, well-drained soil. Too rich and you get leaves instead of flowers.
Seedlings
Seed germinates best in darkness — cover it fully, unlike chamomile. Transplant out at 4–5 weeks.
In the garden
Deadhead constantly and it blooms until hard frost. Petals are edible and dry well for salves.
Picking
Pick flowers just fully open, mid-morning after dew dries. The sticky resin on your fingers is the good stuff.
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Dates by zone
These pages turn the same frost offsets into calendar dates for each zone the calendar covers.