Mix Pacific Beauty Calendula Seeds

Direct sow Calendula flower seeds outdoors 2-4 weeks prior to your last frost date. These seeds actually prefer a cooler soil temperature, and warm spring weather will only make you wait longer for them to germinate. Sow Calendula seeds 1/4 inch deep. Germination takes 7-20 days, with most seeds germinating in 10–14 days at 60–65°F soil temperature. If you are starting them indoors, use biodegradable pots, as Calendula does not like transplanting. Space seedlings 12-18 inches apart. If you space them any closer, it may cause powdery mildew to develop later in the season.

For Pacific Beauty Calendula, full sun is where it grows the best stems and most abundant bloom set. It tolerates partial shade, however it will have fewer blooms and lax stems, which is fine for a general landscape but not good for cutting. Soil pH of 5.5-7.0 is desired, though Calendula Officinalis is more tolerant of poor soil than most annuals. It will not tolerate waterlogged soil, though, as it kills the plant. Well-drained is a must. Water during dry spells, but once established, these plants handle short droughts without much trouble.

Deadhead Pacific Beauty Calendula consistently to prolong the blooming season. Leaving a spent bloom on a plant tells it to stop flowering and start producing seeds; cut it back to a side bud and it keeps going. Monthly feedings of a balanced fertilizer can give it a boost, especially in pots where nutrients wash out with every watering. Aphids are the main pest to watch — they cluster on new growth quickly and are easy to miss until the infestation is established. Check carefully, before bringing cut stems indoors.