Calendula officinalis 'Indian Prince'
pot marigold
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: June to October
- Flower colour: orange
- Other features: excellent cut-flowers
- Hardiness: fully hardy annual (it will die after flowering)
Each burnt orange petal has a mahogany reverse, adding to the the flowers rich colouring. The flowers top taller than average stems, which makes them particularly good for cutting and popping into a vase. A prolific flowerer, this fresh annual is easy to grow in most most soils - even quite poor ones and the edible petals look wonderful scattered over salads. - Garden care: Sow in spring, either in situ into well-raked soil, or in a seed-tray or pot. Cover the seed with 1cm of soil or compost and thin out as the seedlings appear allowing 30cm between each plant. They require little care, although regular deadheading will prolong the already substantial flowering period.
- Sow: March-April
- Flowering: June-October
- Approximate quantity: 100 seeds.
Achillea 'Taygetea'
yarrow
Euphorbia palustris
spurge
Ideal for a woodland edge or sunny border
Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
montbretia
Bright red flowers are ideal cut flowers
Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Solfatare'
montbretia
Apricot-yellow flowers
How to use companion plants
Companion planting is a method of growing different plants adjacent to one another for the benefit of one or both of the companions. Some plants are thought to confuse or act as a decoy to potential pests, while a few...
Read full articleDealing with common pests and diseases
One of the first things you learn when you start gardening is that plants are not alone in the garden. There is a whole host of bugs that set up home in...
Read full articleAphids
Symptoms Most commonly thought of as the small, fat, green insects covering roses. However, aphids can also be black, yellow, pink, greyish-white and brown. They are all about 2mm long, round and full of sap. Harm Bad infestations can reduce the vigour of...
Read full articleSow annuals in pots
If you have redundant space in your heated greenhouse why not try sowing a few flowering annuals such as cornflowers, calendulas, godesia and nemesia for pots of colourful blooms next spring? Sow in trays of compost and prick out seedling when large enough...
Read full articleSow colourful annuals
Fast-maturing annuals, such as calendula, candytuft, clarkia, cosmos, godetia and nasturtium, can still be sown now for a succession of colour throughout the summer months. If you live in a mild area, make three or four sowings spaced two weeks...
Read full articleGet more flowers
Deadheading will prevent them setting seed and so use their energy producing a further flush of blooms later on. Plants that respond well to deadheading include annuals such as Ageratum, Alyssum, Antirrhinum, Calendula, Centaurea, Cosmos, Dahlia, foxglove, Californian poppy, sweet...
Read full articleLate chance to sow annuals
Fast-maturing annuals, such as calendula, candytuft, clarkia, cosmos, godetia and nasturtium, can still be sown now for colour in late summer if you live in a mild area. Either sow direct outside into a prepared seedbed in straight rows to...
Read full article