Planting guide · zone 6a
When to plant calendula in zone 6a
In zone 6a, the average last spring frost is Apr 28 and the first fall frost is Oct 15. Here is calendula's whole year, counted from those dates.
Mar 17Start seeds indoorsSpring
Apr 28Transplant into the gardenSpring
Jun 21Start seeds indoorsFall
Jul 19Transplant 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.