A winter flower, not a summer one
In Australia calendula (Calendula officinalis) works the opposite way to many gardeners' expectations. It enjoys cool weather, so sowing in March to May gives flowers through winter and into spring in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart. In Brisbane and the subtropical coast, sow in autumn as well and let the plants finish before the humid summer. In the tropical north, the dry season is the better window.
Pot marigold or marigold?
The name causes confusion. Calendula is called pot marigold, but the French and African types in summer punnets are Tagetes, a different genus. Calendula flower heads are daisy-like, usually about 4 to 7 cm wide, in clear orange or yellow with a darker eye, and the plants stand about 30 to 60 cm tall.
Growing and picking
- Sow seed straight into the bed, about a centimetre deep, and thin the seedlings.
- Give full sun and soil that is not waterlogged.
- Remove old heads often and flowers will keep appearing.
- Leave a few to ripen and the plant will often seed itself next year.
For a vase, cut stems just after a flower opens. They last roughly five to eight days and have a faintly resinous scent. You can eat the petals, which have long been scattered over salads and rice as a cheap colour accent.
Skin, paws and whiskers
Pot marigold is rated non-toxic for dogs and cats by the ASPCA. Skin is another matter, because daisy-family plants can irritate some hands.
