Calendula Heirloom Seeds - Pacific Beauty

Packed in Resealable Long Life Mylar Moisture Proof Packets 10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Flower Type: Calendula Variety: Pacific Beauty Family: Daisy Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 Growing Difficulty:  2 Soil PH:  6.0 to 7.0 Fertilizer Requirements:  Liquid bloom Soil Type: Rich, Average, Well-Draining, Organic Germination (days): 5 to 15 Soil Temp for Germination: 68-85°F Lighting Conditions: Full Sun Days to Maturity:  60 – 90    Planting Depth:  1/4” Distance Apart (in row):  10-15" Row Spacing: 12-18"   Sowing Instructions 2-4 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST Starting Indoors 6-8 WEEKS BEFORE DANGER OF LAST FROST Growing Tips Calendula Pacific Beauty is an easy growing seed, especially when started indoors before last frost. Calendula grows good with vegetables and are great companions for peas, carrots, and tomatoes. Soil should be rich and well drained. Calendula can tolerate poor conditions but prefers nourishing soil. Culinary Uses Calendula is often used as a natural food dye. The flowers are great edible garnish in many dishes and can often be found gracing a gourmet cuisine with their elegance. Great for decoration of cakes (especially wedding cakes) and other desserts. Medicinal Uses This beautiful flower also packs a great Medicinal Punch. From the ability to strengthen the immune system to improving digestion, this plant is often used as a tea to treat a wide variety of symptoms. Calendula is thought to be an anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial plant. It has been known to treat skin conditions like rashes, dry skin, and eczema. Known as a “healing” plant, it can also help with wound healing, insect bites, bruises, and cuts. As a tea, Calendula is thought to help treat a sore throat or sores of the mouth. Calendula has also been found to slow development of wrinkles and hydrate skin. Harvesting Crops You should begin to harvest the blossoms of the Calendula flower when they are just partially open. This is the point of growth that contains the most medicinal properties. Lopping the flower head from the stalk makes for a steadier harvest of blooms throughout the entire growing season. The more often you harvest, the more blooms each plant will produce. Drying Flowers: You should provide plenty of air circulation and protection from the sun while drying your calendula flowers. Spread them out evenly and DO NOT WASH THEM. Allow your flowers to dry completely before processing into medicine or tea. You will know the flowers are dried completely when they are no longer difficult to grind between your fingers. Harvesting Seed Choose your BEST FLOWERS for your seed harvesting. These are likely to produce the highest quality seeds at the peak of maturity. Allow the flower heads to dry on the plant. Once the seed head is completely dried, gently remove the seeds from the head. Note: If the seeds do not easily break free, they are not ready to be harvested. Store your newly collected seeds in a cool dry place for the next growing season.