Marigold: Wanted Poster, Sowing & Use

The marigold has long been part of the picture of old farm and vegetable gardens. Due to its versatile use, the calendula not only delights with its beautiful flowers.

It is not only a valuable plant for bees, wild bees and butterflies thanks to its good pollen and nectar values, we can also benefit from it. We provide you with the marigolds (Calendula officinalis) and give tips for cultivation in your own garden. We also go into other aspects such as use.

Marigold: profile and origin

The marigold, also called gold 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 area. Perhaps the Crusades at the end of the 11th Century contributed to its spread. The marigold is therefore a neophyte. However, because it does not displace other plants or reproduce excessively, we do not classify it as problematic or invasive.

Today the plant mainly grows where nutrient-rich and loose soils can be found. At the end of its flowering period, the annual goldflower forms seed heads that fall down and into the ground overwinter to produce new 20 to 60 cm high yellow-orange flowering plants in the next growing season to bring forth. The non-toxic Calendula blooms from June to October and can be used in a variety of ways during this time. For example, marigold can be used as a home remedy to treat wounds or to reduce inflammation.

The most beautiful marigold species and varieties

The different varieties of marigold are often only distributed locally. Here are some particularly beautiful representatives of the marigold:

• ‘Orange Gitana’: A rather lower variety that develops orange flowers
• "Yellow Gianna": Corn yellow flowers with a darker pistil
• ‘Orange porcupine’: Full, orange flowers that are often a bit curled up
• 'Neon': Dense, double 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 which can be cultivated just as easily.

In addition to pure seeds, there are also many seed mixtures for Meadows of flowers that combine the bee magnet calendula with other summer flowers. Such insect-friendly mixtures can be used to feed a wide variety of insects.

Planting marigold

Whether as an eye-catcher between the vegetable plants, as part of an insect pasture or for targeted harvest - the marigold is diverse. We will show you how you too can plant the calendula in your garden.

The right location for calendula

The marigold likes to grow on fresh to moist, loamy and nutrient-rich soils. Heavy soils that tend to waterlogging are unfortunately unsuitable for marigolds. In March to May, at the latest in early autumn, you can sow them in a sunny to partially shaded location outdoors or in a tub. So you can 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 pots, water drainage must be ensured through holes in the pot.
In order for the seeds of the marigold to germinate, it is critical to keep the germinating seeds moist.

Sowing marigold at a glance:

• Sowing time: April - October
• Germination time: 8-14 days
• Germination temperature (optimal): 10 - 20 ° C
• Sowing depth: 1 - 2 cm
• Row spacing: 20 - 30 cm, the spacing also applies to other crops
• Plant spacing: After emergence, isolate to 25 cm

For sowing, we recommend a loose soil with a low nutrient content, which stimulates the formation of roots and allows the plant to grow optimally. For example ours Plantura organic herb & seed compost works well here. The perlite in the earth ensures a loose soil structure.

Marigold as a green manure against pests

But the medicinal plant does not only have something to offer for humans and insects. It can also improve the soil. For example, if it is infested with harmful nematodes (also known as roundworms or small elbows), marigold plants act as a natural soil disinfectant against many types of roundworms. This involves sowing 1.5 grams of marigold seeds per square meter between March and September and allowing the flowers to stand for at least ten weeks before they can be worked into the soil. Since harmful nematodes often occur in tomatoes and carrots, the marigold is a good catch or secondary crop.

tip: Not all roundworms are pests, in fact there are useful nematodesthat are used in biological crop protection.

Caring for marigold: cutting, watering & co

As a fully grown plant, the calendula can withstand a few 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 in the same place for several years by self-sowing, fertilization is necessary. This can already be taken into account when sowing by working a long-term fertilizer into the seedbed. With our Plantura organic flower fertilizer achieve a long-term effect of at least three months. The balanced nutrient composition ensures healthy and resilient plants. The slowly and flowing nitrogen released as well as the rather low phosphate and high potassium content of our flower fertilizer help marigold flowers to remain stable and bloom.

The long-stemmed flower is suitable as a cut flower for the vase and brings the joy of colorful nature into the house from summer to autumn.

When growing in pots, fertilization every six weeks is recommended, the easiest way to do this is with an organic liquid fertilizer. However, pay attention to the nutrient composition: a fertilization that is too high in nitrogen significantly reduces the formation of flowers. Our Plantura organic flower & balcony fertilizeron the other hand, it ensures a lush display of flowers throughout the season. Thanks to the quick and easy watering application, the microorganisms contained are introduced into the soil. These in turn promote strong root growth. The nutrient composition of our fertilizer is specially designed for flowering plants and provides important nutritional elements in appropriate quantities.

Caring for marigold at a glance:

• Water when it is visibly dry, but avoid waterlogging.
• Use a fertilizer with long-term effects annually in the field and in the case of multi-year cultivation at 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 colder, the plant will stop growing completely. Therefore, the flower can be classified as sufficiently frost hardy. The seeds that the marigold sheds at the end of its growing season also survive the cold months in the soil. In the spring, these then bring out new plants, so that with a little luck you can enjoy the calendula again and again.

Tip: You can also selectively 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 removed from the also dry seed stand.
If you sow the calendula late in the year, it will still be there in its blooming splendor in winter. The seeds can then be used to spread your own marigold stock elsewhere in the garden or to multiply in new pots.

Harvesting marigold: when and how to do it

For the medicinal use of the plant, the best harvest time is the flowering time, as the fully developed flowers are used. Often only the flower heads are used, which can be easily snapped off with your fingers. Those who are enthusiastic about wild herbs will also find the leaves interesting. These can be harvested all year round. However, you shouldn't remove all of a plant's leaves in order for it to regenerate.

Use of the marigold

The different parts of the marigold are used differently:

• Leaves: salad ingredient
• Flower heads: decoration for salads, coloring agents for rice or Easter eggs, boiling in ointments
• Petals: Dried as a tea
• Peduncle and flower: cut flower

Because it is an insect-friendly plant, bees are often found sitting on marigolds. To use as a cut flower, cut the most beautiful shoots far below, preferably with freshly opened flowers. Make sure that no leaves in the vase are immersed in the water.

Marigold as a medicinal plant

The best-known form of the calendula remedy is the ointment, which you can also make yourself. Marigold flower heads are gently boiled with beeswax and sunflower oil. Vaseline or milking fat 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 the marigold poisonous?

As can already be seen from the above sections, the marigold is not poisonous to humans.
For dogs and horses, for example, there are also remedies made from calendula, for example teas or oils for use in the gastrointestinal tract or for the fur.

For cats, however, the essential oils contained in marigold are unfortunately poisonous. Find out more about other plants that you can plant in your garden. More exciting Medicinal plants for the garden we have compiled for you in our special article.