The marigold has long been part of the image of old farm gardens and vegetable gardens. Due to its versatile use, the calendula not only delights with its beautiful blossom.
It is not only a valuable plant for bees, wild bees and butterflies due to its good pollen and nectar values, we can also benefit from it. We introduce you to the marigolds (Calendula officinalis) and give tips for cultivating them in your own garden. We also go into other aspects such as use.
Marigold: characteristics and origin
The marigold, also called golden flower, rain flower or marigold, belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae). It has been with us for so long that it is not possible to say with certainty where it originally came from. Botanical studies suggest an origin in the Mediterranean region. The Crusades at the end of the 11th century may have contributed to their spread. So the marigold is a neophyte. However, because it doesn't crowd out other plants or reproduce excessively, we don't classify it as problematic or invasive.
Today, the plant grows primarily where there is nutrient-rich and loose soil. At the end of its flowering period, the annual golden flower forms seed heads that fall and overwinter in the ground to produce new 20 to 60 cm tall yellow-orange flowering plants in the next growing season. The non-toxic Calendula blooms from June to October and can be used in a variety of ways during this time. For example, the marigold can be used as a home remedy to treat wounds or to reduce inflammation.
The most beautiful types and varieties of marigolds
The different varieties of marigold are often only distributed locally. Here are some particularly beautiful representatives of the marigold:
- 'Orange Gitana': A rather short cultivar that produces orange flowers
- 'Yellow Gianna': Maize yellow flowers with darker pistil
- 'Orange Porcupine': Full, orange flowers that are often curled up
- 'Neon': Densely filled orange flowers with red tips
In addition to varieties of Calendula officinalis there are also related species of calendula that can be decorative and useful. An example is Calendula arvensis, which is considered the ancestor of the cultivated marigold and is just as easy to cultivate.
In addition to pure seeds, many seed mixtures for flower meadows are available that combine the bee magnet calendula with other summer flowers. With such insect-friendly mixtures you can offer food to numerous different insects.
Planting Marigold
Whether as an eye-catcher between the vegetable plants, as part of an insect pasture or for targeted harvesting - the marigold is versatile. We will show you how you can plant calendula in your garden.
The right place for calendula
The marigold likes fresh to moist, loamy and nutrient-rich soil. Unfortunately, heavy soils that tend to waterlogging are unsuitable for marigolds. In March to May, or early autumn at the latest, you can sow them in a sunny to partially shaded spot outdoors or in a bucket. You can also grow the calendula in a pot to keep a valuable plant for humans and insects on your partially shaded to full sun balcony.
Important: When cultivating in a pot, the drainage through holes in the pot must be guaranteed.
In order for the seeds of the marigold to germinate, it is crucial that the germinating Keep seed moist.
Sowing marigolds at a glance:
- Sowing date: April - October
- Germination period: 8 - 14 days
- Germination temperature (optimal): 10 - 20 °C
- Seed depth: 1 - 2 cm
- Row spacing: 20 - 30 cm, the same distance also applies to other crops
- Planting distance: After emergence, separate to 25 cm
For sowing, we recommend loose soil with a low nutrient content, which stimulates root formation and allows the plant to grow optimally. For example, our Plantura organic herb & seed soil is well suited here. The perlite in the soil ensures a loose soil structure.
Marigold as green manure against pests
Not only for humans and insectsthe medicinal plant has something to offer. She can also improve the soil. For example, if this is infested with harmful nematodes (also called roundworms or nematodes), marigold plants act as a natural soil disinfectant against many types of roundworms. You sow 1.5 grams of marigold seed per square meter between March and September and leave the flowers for at least ten weeks before you can work them into the soil. Since harmful nematodes often occur in tomatoes and carrots, the marigold is a good choice as a cover or side crop.
Tip: Not all nematodes are pests, in fact there are also useful nematodes that are used in biological crop protection.
Care for marigolds: cutting, watering & Co
As an adult plant, the calendula can withstand some periods of drought. However, if the soil is visibly dry, it should be watered. However, waterlogging is not tolerated by the plant. If the marigold grows by self-sowing in the same place for several years, fertilization is necessary. This can already be taken into account when sowing by incorporating a long-term fertilizer into the seedbed. With our Plantura organic flower fertilizer you can achieve a long-term effect of at least three months. The balanced nutrient composition ensures he althy and resilient plants. The slowly and fluently released nitrogen as well as the rather low phosphate and high potassium content of our flower fertilizer are beneficial for the stability and blooming of marigolds.
The long-stemmed flower is suitable as a cut flower for the vase and brings the joy of colorful nature indoors from summer to autumn.
For pot cultivation, fertilization is recommended every six weeks. The easiest way to do this is with an organic liquid fertilizer. However, pay attention to the nutrient composition: Fertilization that is too high in nitrogen significantly reduces flowering. Our Plantura Organic Flower & Balcony Fertilizer , on the other hand, ensures lush flowers throughout the season. The microorganisms contained are introduced into the soil by the quick and easy pouring application. These in turn promote strong root growth. The nutrient composition of our fertilizer is specially designed for flowering plants and provides the right amount of important nutrients.
Care for marigold at a glance:
- Water when dry, but avoid waterlogging.
- Use a slow release fertilizer annually outdoors and in perennial crops in the same location.
- Regular fertilization is necessary in pot culture.
Is the marigold hardy?
Since the calendula is an annual summer flower, the plant cannot be overwintered. If the temperatures do not drop below -5 °C, the radiant flowers of the marigold can still be seen. If it gets even colder, the plant stops growing altogether. Therefore, the flower can be classified as sufficiently frost hardy. The seeds that the marigold sheds at the end of its vegetation period also survive the cold months in the ground. In the spring, these produce new plants, so that with a bit of luck you can enjoy the calendula again.
Tip: You can also collect the seeds while they are still ripening on the plant. Ripe seeds can be recognized by the fact that they are dry and can be easily detached from the equally dry seed head.
If you sow the calendula late in the year, it will still be in bloom in winter. The seeds can then be used to propagate your own marigold stock elsewhere in the garden or to propagate in new pots.
Harvesting marigolds: when and how to do it
For medicinal use of the plant, the best time to harvest is when it is in bloom, as the fully developed flowers are used. Often only the flower heads are used, which you can easily snap off with your fingers. Anyone who is enthusiastic about wild herbs will also find the leaves interesting. These can be harvested all year round. However, you should not remove all leaves from a plant to allow it to regenerate.
Use of Marigold
The different parts of the marigold have different uses:
- Leaves: Salad ingredient
- Flower heads: Decoration for salads, coloring agent for rice or Easter eggs, preserving in ointments
- Petals: Dried as Tea
- Peduncle and Flower: Cut Flower
As this is an insect friendly plant, bees are often found perched on marigolds. To use as a cut flower, cut off the best shootsfar below, best with freshly opened flowers. Make sure that no leaves in the vase are submerged in the water.
Marigold as medicinal plant
The most well-known form of the calendula remedy is the ointment, which you can also make yourself. Marigold flower heads are lightly boiled with beeswax and sunflower oil. Vaseline or milking grease can also be used as a basis. This is then used in areas of wound healing and joint pain. It also helps against pimples, dry skin or dermatitis and is also said to be useful against stretch marks.
Is marigold poisonous?
As can already be seen from the sections above, the marigold is not poisonous to humans.
There are also medicinal products made from calendula for dogs and horses, for example teas or oils for use in the Gastrointestinal tract or for the fur.
Unfortunately, the essential oils contained in marigolds are poisonous for cats. Learn about other plants you can plant in your garden. We have compiled other exciting medicinal plants for the garden in our special article.