Planting guide · zone 7a
When to plant calendula in zone 7a
In zone 7a, the average last spring frost is Apr 12 and the first fall frost is Oct 29. Here is calendula's whole year, counted from those dates.
Mar 1Start seeds indoorsSpring
Apr 12Transplant into the gardenSpring
Jul 5Start seeds indoorsFall
Aug 2Transplant 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.