Planting guide · zone 5b
When to plant calendula in zone 5b
In zone 5b, the average last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost is Oct 8. Here is calendula's whole year, counted from those dates.
Mar 27Start seeds indoorsSpring
May 8Transplant into the gardenSpring
Jun 14Start seeds indoorsFall
Jul 12Transplant 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.