How to Grow

How to Grow Calendulas UK | Regional Planting Calendar

Move through the SoilCommander growing library like a course: keep the navigation in place, open the next lesson, and build your garden plan step by step.

How to Grow Calendulas UK | Regional Planting Calendar guide thumbnail

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

A bushy calendula plant with orange flowers — “Calendula officinalis pot marigold Harmony Gardens Broadwater Farm Estate Haringey London England 01 large” by Acabashi is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

2 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Plant
Early March to mid April
Site
4+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–7
Biggest risk
Powdery mildew

In the UK, calendulas go in the ground early March to mid April.

Calendulas (Calendula officinalis) — Hardy annual (RHS also lists a biennial habit).

Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: sowing early March, and that same window applies across all 4 regions covered here.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.

Regional Planting Calendar

A young calendula plant with early flowers — “Calendula officinalis - pot marigold at Thimphu during LGFC - Bhutan 2019 (9)” by Vinayaraj is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Calendula officinalis - pot marigold at Thimphu during LGFC - Bhutan 2019 (9)” by Vinayaraj is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Region Sow
Southern England early March to mid April
Midlands early March to mid April
Northern England early March to mid April
Scotland early March to mid April
Southern England - detail & sources

RHS states calendula is sown direct in spring, at 2-3 week intervals for a continuous display.

Midlands - detail & sources

RHS states calendula is sown direct in spring, at 2-3 week intervals for a continuous display.

Northern England - detail & sources

Same spring sowing window as elsewhere in the UK -- RHS rates calendula H5 hardy throughout most UK regions even in severe winters, so no regional caution is needed here.

Scotland - detail & sources

Same spring sowing window as elsewhere in the UK -- RHS rates calendula H5 hardy throughout most UK regions even in severe winters, so no regional caution is needed here.

Quick Facts

A bushy calendula plant with orange flowers — “Calendula officinalis pot marigold Harmony Gardens Broadwater Farm Estate Haringey London England 01 large” by Acabashi is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Calendula officinalis pot marigold Harmony Gardens Broadwater Farm Estate Haringey London England 01 large” by Acabashi is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6 - 7
Sunlight 4-8 hours direct sun
Germination temp 16C
Minimum survivable temp -15C
Drainage Well-drained; light, poor, free-draining soil tolerated (RHS). USU: moderately nutrient-rich, tolerates a wide range.
Lifecycle Hardy annual (RHS also lists a biennial habit). Genuinely distinct from the Tagetes marigolds already in this catalogue (French/Aztec marigold, Signet marigold) -- Calendula and Tagetes share the common name "marigold" but are different genera. RHS rates it H5, hardy throughout most UK regions even in severe winters (-15 to -10C). Flowers from summer through early autumn (RHS).
Edible parts flowers, leaves

At a Glance

Close-up of a single calendula flower — “Calendula officinalis - pot marigold at Thimphu during LGFC - Bhutan 2019 (10)” by Vinayaraj is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Calendula officinalis - pot marigold at Thimphu during LGFC - Bhutan 2019 (10)” by Vinayaraj is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Calendula officinalis Calendula Powdery mildew Calendula virus disease… Glasshouse whitefly Aphids DISEASES PESTS

Soil & Growing Conditions

Calendula plants growing in a garden bed — “Calendula officinalis Pot Marigold გულყვითელა” by Lazaregagnidze is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Calendula officinalis Pot Marigold გულყვითელა” by Lazaregagnidze is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Soil pH range

6 7

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

A single calendula flower against foliage — “Calendula in Autumn” by Thomas888b is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Calendula in Autumn” by Thomas888b is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stage BBCH Notes
Sowing 0 RHS: sow direct in spring (or autumn), 0.5cm deep into finely prepared soil, thinned to 23cm apart; sow at 2-3 week intervals for a continuous display. USU: sow 1/4in deep once soil temperature reaches 60F, germinates in 1-2 weeks; thin seedlings to 8-12in apart in the row.
Establishment care 3 USU: supply 1-1.5in of water a week in mid-summer for optimal growth, though the plant can survive low-water conditions; side-dress every month with a complete soluble fertilizer for optimal bloom.
Flowering and companion planting 6 Deadhead regularly and pinch out terminal shoots to encourage bushy growth and prolong flowering (RHS; USU); USU gives a concrete number -- plants re-bloom in about 2 weeks after deadheading. USU: often planted around tomatoes and potatoes as a companion, acting as a trap crop that draws aphids, whiteflies and thrips away with its sticky sap. Self-seeds readily year to year (RHS).
Harvest 8 USU: pick the complete flower head at full bloom; dry in 1-5 days in a ventilated area away from sunlight. RHS: flowers good for cutting, petals edible, used both in cooking and by herbalists for skincare; USU adds the leaves are also edible, often added to salads.

Harvest & Storage

A double-flowered orange calendula variety — “Yellow pot marigold 03” by Kryesmin is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Yellow pot marigold 03” by Kryesmin is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: USU: pick the complete flower head at full bloom; plants re-bloom in about 2 weeks after deadheading. RHS: flowers good for cutting.

Storage

USU: dry flowers in 1-5 days in a ventilated area away from sunlight.

Diseases

A pale double-flowered calendula variety — “Yellow pot marigold 02” by Kryesmin is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Yellow pot marigold 02” by Kryesmin is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Named by both RHS and USU ("powdery mildew(s)").

Calendula virus diseases (unspecified/unidentified)
low

RHS names "a virus" without further detail -- recorded at unspecified level rather than inventing a named virus.

Pests

A bee pollinating a calendula flower — “Calendula officinalis - pot marigold at Thimphu during LGFC - Bhutan 2019 (4)” by Vinayaraj is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Calendula officinalis - pot marigold at Thimphu during LGFC - Bhutan 2019 (4)” by Vinayaraj is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Glasshouse whitefly adult on a leaf — Sanja565658, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sanja565658, CC BY-SA 3.0
Glasshouse whitefly
low

Trialeurodes vaporariorum

Named directly by USU.

low

Aphididae (various spp.)

Named by both RHS and USU.

References

  1. Soil: chalk, loam, sand; well-drained; light, poor, free-draining soil tolerated; pH acid, alkaline or neutral. Sun/aspect: full sun or partial shade, any aspect; exposed or sheltered. Size: 0.1-0.5m height/spread, matures within 1-2 years. Hardiness H5 (-15 to -10C, hardy throughout most UK regions even in severe winters). Sowing: direct in spring, 0.5cm deep into finely prepared soil, thin to 23cm apart; sow at 2-3 week intervals for a continuous display; also sown in situ in autumn. Care: deadhead regularly to prolong flowering; pinch out terminal shoots to encourage bushy growth; self-seeds year to year. Uses: good for cutting, edible petals, used by herbalists for skincare products; flowers summer through early autumn. Pests: may be susceptible to aphids. Diseases: may be susceptible to powdery mildews and a virus.

  2. Site/soil: well-drained, moderately nutrient-rich, pH 6-7, tolerates a wide range, suits most Utah soils. Spacing: thin to 8-12in apart in the row. Sowing: 1/4in deep once soil temperature reaches 60F, germinates in 1-2 weeks; grown from seed or transplants after frost danger passes. Water: 1-1.5in per week in mid-summer for optimal growth, though it can survive low-water conditions. Fertilizing: side-dress every month with a complete soluble fertilizer for optimal bloom. Harvest: pick the complete flower head at full bloom; plants re-bloom in about 2 weeks after deadheading; flowers dry in 1-5 days in a ventilated area away from sunlight. Companion planting: often planted around tomatoes and potatoes to help deter insect pests, acting as a trap crop that draws aphids, whiteflies and thrips with its sticky sap. Pests: whiteflies and aphids, controlled with a hard stream of water or regular insecticidal soap. Diseases: powdery mildew, managed with good air circulation, controlled irrigation, and removing infested plant parts.

2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sow calendulas in the UK?

In Southern England, from early March. In Scotland, wait until early March. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.

When do I sow calendulas?

Sow early March to mid April, at around 16°C for germination.

What soil pH do calendulas need?

A pH of about 6–7. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect calendulas?

Our data links 2 diseases and 2 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

Get the UK Garden Planner →

Instant PDF download · Written for UK growing conditions

SoilCommander Editorial Team

UK vegetable growing guides · Checked against RHS & Met Office guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real UK growing conditions, and reviewed against Royal Horticultural Society growing advice and Met Office climate data before publication.

Vegetable Growing Guides UK

Last verified 2026-09-04

Relevant next steps

Where To Go From Here

Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.

UK garden plannerTurn this crop guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and a harvest record. All growing guidesBrowse every crop we cover for your region, A to Z. Planting CalendarSee how this crop fits alongside everything else you are growing.
Free Tool
soilcommander.com/pages/garden-planner
1 · Shape
2 · Crops
3 · Conditions
4 · Plan
Choose your garden shape
🍅
Bed 1
Tomatoes
🍌
Bed 2
Legumes
🥦
Bed 3
Brassicas
🥕
Bed 4
Roots
🥥
Bed 5
Alliums
🌿
Herbs & More

Free planning tool

Plan your veg garden before you dig a single inch

Sketch your exact plot shape, pick your UK crops, and get a spacing-accurate bed layout with companion pairings, a rotation plan and month-by-month sowing dates — every fact sourced from RHS and Garden Organic.

Garden Layout Planner Tool

Free to use. Nothing to install.

Plan the next step

Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.

Get Planner