Edible Flowers · Step-by-step guide
How to Grow Calendula Seeds
Cheerful, edible orange blooms for your garden
Easy-to-grow calendula with cheerful orange blooms and edible petals. A beautiful addition to home gardens, herb gardens, and edible landscapes.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Germination
- 7–14 days
- Time to harvest
- 50–60 days to first flowers
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial sun
- Water
- Moderate; keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged
- Soil
- Well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter
- Spacing
- 8–12 inches between plants
- Temperature
- 10–24°C; prefers cool to mild conditions
Step-by-step guide
- 1
Sow the Seeds
Sow calendula seeds about 1/4 inch deep in moist, well-draining seed-starting mix or directly in the final container. Cover lightly with soil.
- 2
Keep Moist
Keep the soil evenly moist while the seeds are germinating. Avoid waterlogging the soil.
- 3
Provide Good Light
Once seedlings emerge, place them where they receive bright light and several hours of direct sun each day.
- 4
Thin or Transplant
When seedlings have several true leaves, thin or transplant them so each plant has enough space to grow. Space plants about 8–12 inches apart.
- 5
Water and Feed
Water when the top layer of soil begins to dry. Feed lightly with compost or a balanced fertilizer if growth appears slow.
- 6
Harvest the Flowers
Harvest flowers when they are fully open, preferably in the morning after the dew has dried. Regular harvesting encourages more blooms.
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