🌼 What Are Calendula Seeds?

Calendula seeds come from Calendula officinalis, commonly known as Pot Marigold. Native to Southern Europe, this hardy annual is loved for its cheerful, daisy-like blooms in shades of orange and yellow. Calendula is both an ornamental favorite and a respected medicinal herb, with centuries of use in gardens and herbal remedies.

🌿 Botanical Features

• Seed Shape: Curved, spiky, and crescent-moon shaped

• Flower Colors: Bright orange, golden yellow, cream, and bi-colors

• Bloom Form: Single or double daisy-like flowers

• Plant Height: 12–24 inches

• Foliage: Light green, slightly sticky, lance-shaped leaves

• Germination: 7–10 days in cool, moist conditions

• Growth Habit: Upright and bushy with profuse flowering

🍽️ Culinary Uses

Calendula is edible and widely used in the kitchen:

• Petals (sometimes called “poor man’s saffron”) can be used to:

  • Color rice, butter, cheese, and soups

  • Garnish salads, baked goods, and teas

• Mild peppery flavor with a hint of bitterness

🏥 Health Benefits

Calendula is one of the most widely used herbs in natural skincare and herbal medicine:

• Rich in: Flavonoids, lutein, and essential oils

• Traditional uses:

  • Soothes skin irritations, wounds, and burns

  • Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties

  • Helps with digestive issues and menstrual discomfort (in teas and tinctures)

🌱 Growing Calendula from Seed

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Sow Indoors or Outdoors:

   • Direct sow in early spring after last frost

   • Alternatively, start indoors 4–6 weeks before planting out

2. Sowing Instructions:

   • Plant seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep in well-drained soil

   • Ideal temperature: 15–20°C (59–68°F)

3. Water & Light:

   • Keep soil evenly moist

   • Prefers full sun, but tolerates light shade

4. Transplanting:

   • Space plants 8–12 inches apart

   • Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering

5. Soil Preference:

   • Grows well in poor to moderately rich soil

   • Avoid over-fertilizing (can reduce flowering)

🔍 Fun Fact

Calendula flowers close at night and during cloudy weather, following the sun’s rhythm—hence the nickname “Sun Bride” in folklore. In medieval times, calendula was thought to bring joy and protection and was often scattered in doorways!