Planting guide · zone 7b
When to plant calendula in zone 7b
In zone 7b, the average last spring frost is Apr 5 and the first fall frost is Nov 5. Here is calendula's whole year, counted from those dates.
Feb 22Start seeds indoorsSpring
Apr 5Transplant into the gardenSpring
Jul 12Start seeds indoorsFall
Aug 9Transplant 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.