Calendula

Calendula is easy to grow from seed. If you want to get started early you can sow indoors in early spring. The ideal time is around six to eight weeks before the last frost date, which in the UK means sometime in early March. Transplant the seedlings once they have grown a few leaves, allowing a spacing of around 6-10 inches between the plants.

Or you can wait until mid-April and sow the seed directly into its final growing position. To prolong the flowering period you can continue with successive sowing until early summer. But don’t wait too long, as the plants tend to become smaller and weaker when sown in hotter weather.

Being a hardy annual you can also sow calendula seeds in late summer to give it a head-start the following Spring.

Whichever timing and method you use, be sure to fully cover the seed with soil as any exposure to light will reduce germination. The ideal sowing depth is around 0.5 to 1.5cm. Keep the soil moist until germination.

Calendula (or pot marigold) is best known as a gentle but effective skin-healing plant. If you crush the flower heads between your fingers you’ll notice a slightly sticky, resin-like feel – this reflects the soothing, protective qualities that make calendula such a valued garden remedy.

Traditionally, calendula has been used to support the healing of cuts, scrapes and irritated skin. It helps calm inflammation, reduce the risk of infection, and encourages the skin’s natural repair process. For this reason, it is often used where the skin is broken, and is widely considered one of the safest herbs for this purpose.

Calendula is commonly applied to minor wounds, burns, grazes, insect bites, bruises and sunburn, as well as to dry, itchy or inflamed skin such as eczema or dermatitis. Creams, oils, or cooled infusions can be applied to soothe discomfort and support healing. Freshly crushed flowers can also be rubbed directly onto insect bites or stings.

Because of its gentle cleansing and anti-inflammatory properties, calendula is a popular ingredient in natural skincare products, including balms, salves and soaps. It is especially valued for sensitive or easily irritated skin.

Calendula flowers have also been used internally as a mild digestive tonic, traditionally taken as a tea to soothe inflammation in the upper digestive tract and to gently support digestion.

Overall, calendula is a classic example of a plant that is easy to grow, generous in its flowering, and generous in its uses – a real staple of both the garden and the home apothecary.

Harvest the flowers throughout the Summer as each one comes to their peak. You can ‘peel’ the flower heads gently off the stalk with your fingers or snip the head just below the base of the flower. They go to seed very quickly so keep an eye on this and keep harvesting every few days.

As a tea take 2-5g of the dried flower head.

For a tincture using the dried flowers make a 1:5@25%.

For an oil macerate some fresh-flowers in a double-boiler/bain marie at a ratio of 1:4.

Or you can make a salve or a herbal cream.

One potential downside of the sesquiterpene lactones is that they can act as mild to potent allergens for susceptible individuals. Reported reactions have ranged from varying degrees of allergic contact dermatitis all the way up to severe anaphylaxis requiring emergency treatment. Because these compounds are so widely distributed among the Asteraceae, cross reactions can easily occur. A person might become sensitized to the sesquiterpene lactones in one plant (e.g., Ragweeds – Ambrosia spp.) and subsequently will have a reaction to a novel species (e.g., Chamomile or Yarrow) in the family. This is why the herbalist should be cautious when using Asteraceae herbs with people who have a tendency toward respiratory and contact allergies or problems with chronic eczema / atopic dermatitis.