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Calendula or Pot Marigold - Calendula officinalis
These bright yellow and orange annual flowers have a long flowering period - from mid summer to first frost. The petals have been used for medicinal purposes for many years. To encourage continual blooming be sure to remove the seed heads as they start to form. It isn't till the end of the season that I let the seedheads remain and dry so that I can collect seed for the next year. Seeds - calendula
Sow seeds early in the season after the last frost and cover lightly with 1/4" of garden soil. They germinate easily and will grow quickly. I directly sow the seeds right into the large pots they will grow in, seedlings will need thining out to encourage plants to grow bigger. The seed pods start to develop when the bloom is finished. Leave on the plant to dry and change colour. Pick off and gently remove the seeds that are forming in the inner circle.
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