For more on the best flowers to boost your vegetable garden, see:
If you could only grow one flower, you would want it to be not only beautiful, but also easy to grow, to repel pests and attract pollinators, be delicious and to keep coming back. Enter calendula, possibly one of the most underrated flowers that we think every gardener should be growing.
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28 Comments
Thanks for including the medicinal benefits and how to make calendula oil. Everyone needs that oil/balm/salve. Quite healing!
Sounds like dandelion from the description. Easy to start, keeps going forever, edible, flowers throughout the year, brings nutrients to the top soil, brings in pollinators through all seasons, self-seeding. The roots will regrow the plant. You can eat pretty much every part of the flower, including the root. You can make herbal tea, wine, lemonade. You can even use it for dye for traditional clothing.
Another great video.. Bit of a dumb question
Can I overdo companion planting i.e. For tomatoes I companion plant calendula and basil?
Always smile.when I see another video from u..
Couldnt agree more. My garden has loads, especially around my veg beds! Californian Poppy's are the same but not edible (I dont think). Both are really easy to save seeds, actually stopping them from spreading can be the trick. Keep on top of deadheading every week or so and you'll be grand.
Super medicinal too! Calendula salve is amazing! We grow it, dry it, tincture it, oil infused it, powder it. As much as possible!!😁
Quick question for the community please. Does anyone here use a companion plant in summer as a "canary in the coal mine" to signal when a garden bed needs watering? I live in a part of New Zealand where water is precious, as we rely on roof water for both our house and garden. This summer has been particularly hot.
This year, I've planted strawberries in different areas of the vegetable garden, and I've noticed that when they start to wilt, it's a good indication that it's time to water. I also use pea straw to help with water retention, and the peas that grow from it can be a useful guide as well. Generally, I water the garden thoroughly every two days in the evening, but with temperatures reaching 30°C and a decent breeze, the "sacrificial" strawberries have been a reliable quick guide.
Anyone else have similar experiences or tips please?
Thanks for this great perfectly times video 🙂 Love your work.
Love your videos. How warm is your greenhouse at this time of year?
Isn’t it a bit early to sow Calendula outdoors?
I grew calendula for the first time last summer. I use it dried in my nightly tea blend and I made the olive oil infusion which helps soothe my rough skin, minimizes my wrinkles ( an unexpected bonus), and helps heal my cuts and scrapes. It livened up the border of my veg patch. I saved seed. Love this flower. Glad you featured it. Thanks Ben!
I adore Calendula and grow it everywhere – I make a few little jars of ointment every year. The tea is very good for soothing digestive issues and acid reflux.
Calendula is present and flowering all year round in my garden, since italian winters are becoming milder every year. Once you sow it, it comes back again and again. An absolute rockstar plant!
This is great, Ben, thanks – you've inspired me!
I have grown Calendula for soon-to-be 20 years. Only bought one seed packet ever. I use them as an oil on dry skin, sunburn, nettleburn, bug bites, and small cuts as soon as they stop bleeding. I use fresh petals in salads. A wonderful plant!
Calendula and Marigolds are a must in my garden. Marigolds I grow mainly as sacrificial plants since, sadly they get gobbled up by slugs and protect my main crops.
I have a question about the calendula, mine always get this "long leg" even if self seeded around the garden. They grow up and then there is this S shape where the stem leans on the ground and then grows up again to competition. Am I doing something wrong?
2:37 can I ask what size the screen you sift too?
Just coz I wanna do the same
5:22, "Run free young Calendula, run free." Do I detect a playwriter?
I shall make some hair conditioner with calendula this year steeping this in vinegar for a few month with sage to. for A soothing hair conditioner spray
I am going to be doing companion planting in my garden as well! Thank you for this video!
I grow Calendula and a marigold mix every year. Surprisingly last years plants have lasted thru my 9B Sacramento winter and are still flowers. These are great flowers to grow, as you say for companion plants to my summer veggie garden for attracting pollinators and soft body bug eaters. Thanks Ben.
Thank goodness someone is FINALLY saying Calendula is the champion (and not marigolds, which are inedible and nowhere near Calendula's versatility and brilliance.)
I grow calendula as an herb but I really struggle to grow it in my hot climate in Texas. I have to grow it in partial shade. I’m hoping some will self seed this year but if not I have some seedlings I started a few weeks ago.
I planted calendula once. I never needed to do it again. I used to save seeds but unless I want it to be somewhere else I don't bother to do that any more. It's kind of like dill–plant it once and you will have it forever. Oh–and I live in a high desert. It's about the easiest flower to grow that I know of.
Ben, I love ALL your videos, but I especially love it when you give recipe ideas and general usage ideas as in the calendula oil. I use the petals in salads every summer and I will make the calendula oil and try calendula petal tea this year. Thankyou. So glad I found you, as all your videos are so inspiring😊
Hi Ben I really love you and your channel I only watch you and now I'm chopping at the bit to stat my seeds. Last year I started too early but had the best garden I have ever had thanks to you. I used ever suggestions you suggest. It is really true to use compost that I made last year really made the best garden I have ever had thanks and keep given us suggestions
I had no idea calendula came in colors other than orange. I'm not a fan of orange lol.
I've found the best plant to have in my gardens is Oregano that I let go to flower. The amount of bees and parasitic wasps it brings in is amazing and it lasts well into the fall.
What happened to Stephen Merchant?
in northern california, I planted calendulas once before I started high school, and now I'm heading off to college and am a bit sad to say goodbye to all the calendulas that have self seeded and spread across my house. They're gorgeous and pollinators love them. Probably one of my favorite flowers.