CALENDULA Calendula officinalis

WARNING: Not for internal use by pregnant women; may cause contact dermatitis in those allergic to ragweed.

Calendula has become one of
my favorite medicinal herbs, flower and pollinator garden superstars, and edible flowers. Their prolific sunny flowers are a dramatic statement in any garden setting. 

Few things sooth skin irritation like a calendula salve. 

Research proves marigold species as beneficial in lowering plant-parasitic nematodes in soil.

Growing

As with marigolds, they are one of the easiest plants to grow. They germinate easily, transplant well, direct sow well, and are not picky about growing conditions.

Unlike marigolds, calendula can not handle high heat well, so partial shade in very hot locations is recommended. Calendula is a perennial in hotter areas and is grown as an annual in colder climates.

From experience, I can say that these are TOUGH plants. Even when left in small cell flats in the sun, they grew and bloomed through the months. They didn't thrive, but they survived with minimal care in sub-par conditions.

They should not be grown in shade nor watered from overhead, as they are susceptible to powdery mildew. For more blooms, deadheading will help, but is not necessary.

They should NOT be grown with beans, as a chemical produced by their roots will stunt the growth of the beans.

uses

As with marigold, calendula can be planted in mass a season before planting tomatoes, garlic, onion, strawberry, snap bean, cucumber and squash to lower plant-parasitic nematodes. It is used prolifically by gardeners as a companion plant to attract beneficial insects and pollinators and as a trap crop for aphids and other pests.

It is used as an ornamental flower in containers, borders, and flower gardens. calendula can be used as a cut flower. Making sure to remove all leaves below the water line so they don't stink as the leaves rot quickly in water. The flowers can also be dried upside down and used in dried arrangements.

Calendula is one of the most common medicinal herbs. It has a long history of use in tinctures, salves and washes to treat skin wounds and ailments and for digestive issues. Most of the desirable compounds are located in the green base of the flower. Harvest the just-opened flowers once the dew is dry, every 2-3 days. If the plant goes to seed, it will stop producing. Dry the whole flower heads on screens until fully dry, up to 10 days. Store in glass until ready to use.

The petals are high in antioxidants and carotenoids. They can be used in salads, cookies, herbal butters, teas and any recipe calling for herbal flowers. Whole flowers can be used in soups and stews.

The only marigold that is edible is calendula officinalis. French and African marigolds are NOT EDIBLE nor medicinal.

Final Thoughts

I grow calendula mainly for salves and teas. However, they are just a most useful plant to have on the homestead. Whether it is as nematode control, trap crop, beneficial insect attractant, or just looking pretty, I will always have them prolific in my garden.

specs

Calendula officinalis

Type: Annual in cold areas/perennial in frost-free areas

Uses: Beneficial insect attractant, reduce parasitic nematodes, medicinal, edible flowers, yellow dye

Hardiness Zone: 2a-11b

Germination: Can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost and transplanted out after frost date

Seed Prep: None

Seed Depth: 1 inch

Germination Time: 5-14 days

Growing Temp: 70-75°F

Height: 1-2 feet Spread: 1-2 feet

Spacing: 12 inches

Sunlight: Full sun in temperate climates, partial shade in very hot areas

Water Requirements: Average, drought tolerant, don't over water

Soil Quality: Average, well-drained, but not picky

Soil Chemistry: 6.0-7.0

Fertilize: Not needed

Growth Rate: Fast, reaches full maturity in 8 weeks

Bloomtime: Summer to fall Attracts: Pollinators Critter Resistant: Repels plant-parasitic nematodes, deer

Critter Attractant: Slugs, pest insects

Harvest: Flowers

Pruning: Pinch back early to encourage branching, deadhead regularly

Pests: Spider mites, aphids, Japanese beetles, white fly, rape blossom beetles, cutworms, white fringed beetle, lygus bug, six-spotted leafhopper, potato leafhopper, cyclamen mite, blister beetle

Diseases: Powdery mildew

Reseeds: Yes, aggressively

Propagation: Seeds

Garden Style: English cottage, wildflower, containers, border, medicinal

Companions: Most vegetables, may inhibit the growth of some herbs and will stunt the growth of beans

Allergy Potential: Topical rash in some people

https://www.thespruce.com/growing-and-using-calendula-1402626

https://chestnutherbs.com/calendula-sunshine-incarnate-an-edible-and-medicinal-flower/

MILKWEED COMMON Asclepias syriaca

 [WARNING: Toxic to humans and animals - toxic cardiac glycosides]

I was SO happy to find plenty of milkweed growing in the pastures when I bought this property. I had only had milkweed vine at my city house and small farm. While the vine drew in the monarchs, I rarely found caterpillars on it.

Since milkweed is toxic to my animals, especially goats and sheep, I'm attempting to eradicate it from the pastures and move it to my pollinator garden.

Milkweed is actually a very pretty flowering plant with nice big leaves and gorgeous clusters of pale purpley-pinky flowers.

Monocrops have destroyed much of the milkweed in the United States with herbicides, which has led to a dangerous decrease in the number of monarch butterflies. www.saveourmonarchs.org has wonderful information on habitat formation.

Growing

As the name says, it is a weed. As with most weeds, it will grow pretty much anywhere it can find even minimal conditions for growth. Milkweed prefers full sun and average to rich soil. It can handle drought but prefers average water conditions of an inch per week.

Milkweed roots can spread farther than you think, so other plants nearby may suffer, as milkweed will gobble up available nutrients. Give it space of at least two feet.

It can definitely be invasive. The fluff [floss] on the seeds can spread it far and wide quickly. And as a deeply rooted perennial, it can be difficult to eradicate. To keep it in check, remove seed pods before they open.

Propagation can be done via seed, cuttings or rhizome splits. Plants from cuttings may flower the first year, all will bloom in the second year. The seeds need 30 days of cold stratification and as little covering as possible. They will not push through mulch and other covers.

uses

During World War II, the regular material used to stuff life jackets was in short supply, so milkweed floss was used as a substitute. It is about six times more buoyant than cork. [Almanac.com]

The most common use for milkweed these days is as a pollinator food, especially the monarch butterfly that relies on it for nourishment for their caterpillars. More than 450 insect species feed on common milkweed.

Milkweed has been used as a medicinal plant in many cultures for many uses. It can be dangerous, and even lethal if ingested and the milky secretions may cause a skin reqction. It is advised to wear gloves when handling milkweed plants and to not use any part of the plant for medicinal use without extensive knowledge and experience in herbal remedies, and milkweed in particular.

Final Thoughts

Milkweed is one of the best plants you can grow for pollinators. Keeping this one in check is very easy with the large, easily removed, seed pods. While you want to plant it away from children and animals, it is a pretty back border plant for any garden, but especially a pollinator garden.

sPECS

Asclepias syriaca
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Uses: Pollinator attractant, especially monarch butterflies
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Germination: Can be started indoors 4-8 weeks before last frost and transplanted out after frost date, direct seed spring after last frost or fall before frost
Seed Prep: Cold stratifications minimum 30 days
Seed Depth: Compress into soil and water well, keep moist until germination
Germination Time: 7-10 days
Growing Temp: 65-75°F
Height: 3-6 feet
Spread: 18-24 inches
Spacing: 18-24 inches
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Requirements: Average, drought tolerant, don't over water as it can lead to a lethal fungus
Soil Quality: Average, well-drained
Soil Chemistry: 4-8-6.8
Fertilize: Not needed
Growth Rate: Agressive
Bloomtime: June-August
Attracts: Pollinators like butterflies, bees, humming birds
Critter Resistant: Repels most pests, deer
Critter Attractant: Monarch butterflies
Harvest: Roots and sap for medicinal purposes, DANGEROUS, use only with knowledge and care
Pruning: Deadhead regularly
Pests: Milkweed bugs, aphids, whiteflies, scale insects, spider mites, thrips, and leaf miners, usually do little harm
Diseases: Leaf spot, verticillium wilt, and root rot
Reseeds: Yes, aggressively
Propagation: Seeds, cuttings, rhizome divisions
Garden Style: English cottage, pollinator, wildflower, border
Companions: Goldenrod, black-eyed Susans
Traditional Medicinal Uses: Yes
Allergy Potential: DANGEROUS TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS All parts of the plant contain toxic cardiac glycosides, which can cause nausea, diarrhea, weakness, and confusion in small amounts, and seizures, heart rhythm changes, respiratory paralysis, and even death in large amounts. Milkweed can also irritate the skin and eyes if touched.

 https://www.thespruce.com/milkweed-plants-monarch-butterfly-host-2132954#:~:text=Common%20milkweed%20does%20not%20need,result%20in%20a%20lethal%20fungus.

https://www.poison.org/articles/milkweed-can-cause-serious-poisoning-204

https://www.gardendesign.com/plants/milkweed.html

https://www.almanac.com/plant/milkweed

FRENCH MARIGOLD Tagetes patula

I was never a fan of marigolds growing up. They just seemed so...common. They didn't have the majesty of the cut flowers nor the floral ambiance of others. However, as a gardener, I have come to adore these plants and have depended upon their presence as a pest repellant [wrong!] They are possibly the most important flower I grow.  

The main two varieties of marigold are French Tagetes patula and African Tagetes erecta. The heritage French varieties are smaller and supposedly more pest repellant. The showier newer varieties have lost much of their aromatic qualities. The African are larger and showier. I only grow French.

Research has shown that growing marigolds as a pest repellant is a gardening myth. However, most gardeners would disagree, as their anecdotal evidence is strong. This is most likely due not to repellant properties, but the attractant qualities that bring in beneficial insects that do their job. Same outcome.

Research does prove them beneficial in lowering plant-parasitic nematodes in soil.

Growing

Marigolds are one of the easiest plants to grow. They germinate easily, transplant well, direct sow well, are not picky about growing conditions and can handle heat.

They should not be grown in shade nor watered from overhead, as they are susceptible to powdery mildew. For more blooms, deadheading will help, but is not necessary.

They should NOT be grown with beans, as a chemical produced by their roots will stunt the growth of the beans.

uses

French marigold is planted in mass a season before planting tomatoes, garlic, onion, strawberry, snap bean, cucumber and squash to lower plant-parasitic nematodes. It is used prolifically by gardeners as a companion plant to attract beneficial insects and pollinators and as a trap crop for aphids and other pests.

It is used as an ornamental flower in containers, borders, and flower gardens. Marigolds can be used as a cut flower. Making sure to remove all leaves below the water line so they don't stink as the leaves rot quickly in water. The flowers can also be dried upside down and used in dried arrangements.

The only marigold that is edible is calendula. French and African marigolds are NOT EDIBLE nor medicinal.

Final Thoughts

I grow a LOT of marigolds for my garden and interplant them throughout my garden. I was very surprised to find out that research did not support marigolds as being pest repellant. As gardeners have said for so very many years, there is something about them that is beneficial to gardens. Whether it is as nematode control, trap crop, beneficial insect attractant, or just looking pretty, I will always have them prolific in my garden.

specs

Tgetes patula

Type: Annual

Uses: Beneficial insect attractant, reduce parasitic nematodes

Hardiness Zone: 2-11

Germination: Can be started indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost and transplanted out after frost date

Seed Prep: None

Seed Depth: 1 inch

Germination Time: 7-14 days

Growing Temp: 70-75°F

Height: 6-24 inches Spread: 8-12 inches

Spacing: 8-10 inches

Sunlight: Full sun for best flowering, potential for powdery mildew in shade

Water Requirements: Average, drought tolerant, don't over water

Soil Quality: Average, well-drained, but not picky

Soil Chemistry: 5.6-7.5

Fertilize: Not needed

Growth Rate: Fast, reaches full maturity in 8 weeks

Bloomtime: Summer Attracts: Pollinators; beneficial insects lady bugs, hover flies, parasitic wasps Critter Resistant: Repels plant-parasitic nematodes [proven], deer

Critter Attractant: Slugs, pest insects

Harvest: Flowers

Pruning: Pinch back early to encourage branching, deadhead regularly

Pests: Spider mites, aphids, Japanese beetles, white fly, rape blossom beetles, cutworms, white fringed beetle, lygus bug, six-spotted leafhopper, potato leafhopper, cyclamen mite, blister beetle

Diseases: Powdery mildew

Reseeds: Yes, aggressively

Propagation: Seeds

Garden Style: English cottage, wildflower, containers, border

Companions: Most vegetables, may inhibit the growth of some herbs and will stunt the growth of beans

Allergy Potential: Topical rash in some people

https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/magical-repelling-powers-of-marigolds-myth-or-fact/

https://www.britannica.com/video/174126/video-dahlia-flower-opening

https://www.gardenmyths.com/marigolds-companion-plant/

https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/CAT87210014/PDF