Planting guide · zone 5a
When to plant calendula in zone 5a
In zone 5a, the average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is Oct 1. Here is calendula's whole year, counted from those dates.
Apr 3Start seeds indoorsSpring
May 15Transplant into the gardenSpring
Jun 7Start seeds indoorsFall
Jul 5Transplant into the gardenFall
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Soil & site
Average, well-drained soil. Too rich and you get leaves instead of flowers.
Seedling care
Seed germinates best in darkness — cover it fully, unlike chamomile. Transplant out at 4–5 weeks.
Growing notes
Deadhead constantly and it blooms until hard frost. Petals are edible and dry well for salves.
Harvest
Pick flowers just fully open, mid-morning after dew dries. The sticky resin on your fingers is the good stuff.