Growing Calendula: Rules and Features

Calendula, commonly known as 'nogotki,' is a flower familiar to most people. In addition to its beautiful, elegant appearance, this flower is effectively used as a medicinal extract for various therapeutic and preventive procedures. This material will tell gardeners how to properly plant and care for this wonderful plant in your flowerbed.

General Information

This herbaceous plant belongs to the Asteraceae family, which can be identified by the type of flower. It can be either perennial or annual. The overall species composition is approximately a dozen. Inflorescences are most often two colors:

• orange;
• yellow.

The flowering process is relatively prolonged, beginning at the start of summer and ending in the last month of autumn.

Seed Sowing Time

Calendula is grown from seeds, which are sown with the first April warming, or in the last warm days of October.

Soil Preparation

It is extremely important to carry out preparatory work regarding the composition of the soil in advance. These are performed approximately half a month before planting or even in autumn. During the process of tilling the soil, each square meter of the flowerbed should receive the following amounts of fertilizer:

• manure 3-4 kilograms;
• superphosphate and potassium chloride 20 grams each;
• urea 30 grams.

During autumn preparation, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are not applied. They are added in spring to stimulate vegetative growth.

Sowing Work

Seeds are planted into the soil at a depth of no more than a couple of centimeters. The distance between seeds in rows should not be less than a quarter of a meter, and twice as much between rows. This rule applies to decorative 'nogotki.' For cultivation with the purpose of further use of the flower's medicinal potential, the indicated distances may be reduced by a third. Successful planting will allow you to see sprouted shoots within six to eight days, and after three months from the moment the seed is placed in the soil, the plants will bloom.

Seedlings

Gardeners often resort to this cultivation method to see attractive, bright flowers in their flowerbeds or patio as early as possible. In the second half of the first spring month, seeds under seedlings should already be placed in pots or other containers with soil. Seed planting into the soil is performed similarly to the outdoor sowing method. The temperature should not fall below +18 degrees Celsius until sprouts emerge above the surface. Once seedlings enter the vegetative phase, reduce the temperature by 4-5 degrees. Every two weeks, plants are watered and a weak solution of special mineral fertilizers is applied.

Transplanting to Soil

When five to six leaves form on the shoots, it is time to transplant into the flowerbed. The direct planting is carried out according to the same scheme as sowing from seeds.

Growing Tips

Nothing extraordinary is required from the gardener:

• regular watering;
• timely soil loosening;
• removal of weeds as needed;
• application of mineral fertilizer monthly.

To ensure prolonged blooming until autumn cold, as soon as the petals of the inflorescences take on a strictly horizontal position, the flower should be cut. Otherwise, flowering will stop by mid-summer.

Companions in the Row

Calendula is often planted near vegetables and other garden crops to protect it. Typically, this refers to interrows. It is undesirable to place it near radish or basil, as their growth is significantly inhibited by calendula. In other cases, gardeners rely solely on their own preferences and overall composition.