Planting guide · zone 8a
When to plant calendula in zone 8a
In zone 8a, the average last spring frost is Mar 25 and the first fall frost is Nov 12. Here is calendula's whole year, counted from those dates.
Feb 11Start seeds indoorsSpring
Mar 25Transplant into the gardenSpring
Jul 19Start seeds indoorsFall
Aug 16Transplant 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.