Decorative and medicinal plant of calendula. Planting and care

Calendula (or marigold) is a cold-resistant, unpretentious, herbaceous plant belonging to the Astrope family. It is successfully used not only in decorative, but also in medicinal purposes, due to the fact that it contains a whole range of useful substances, including organic acids, carotene, tar and calendene. The medicinal plant of calendula can be easily recognized by a specific and slightly sharp odor. It is due to the presence of essential oil.

Calendula: planting and care. Characteristic features of the plant

Calendula blossoms from early spring and to the very frosts: it normally tolerates even a minus temperature (down to -5 ° C). This plant has a core root, a simple (or slightly branched) stem, dense foliage, yellow, orange, red or brown inflorescences in the form of baskets and fruits - bent achenes. Calendula looks beautiful in various flower gardens, is preserved for a long time in a cut and harmoniously combined in bouquets with lilac, blue and white flowers.

Calendula: planting and care of seedlings

This herb plant loves the sunny side, although it can adapt quite well to partial shade. The soil for it will suit any, the main thing - cultivated and drained. There are various variants of growing this herbaceous plant: seeds, seedlings, seedlings. Calendula, used for decorative purposes, is often planted in the last way. To this end, seeds are sown in a container with soil, boxes or in a heated greenhouse from the second half of March. In order to develop plants, it is necessary to maintain the temperature within 14-15 ° C. By May, the seedlings have to grow and acquire a few leaves, then it can be safely transplanted into the open ground. Seeds of some cut marigold varieties are sown in pots or boxes beginning from the end of January to the beginning of March - this is done for an earlier flowering.

Calendula: planting and care. Features of seed growing

Planting seeds in the open ground can be made in April or May. Sometimes, for a faster and more active flowering, they are planted at the very end of autumn or at the beginning of winter. Planting material placed in the ground "under the winter" gives strong and stable shoots. Seeding of calendula seeds: in watered grooves every 25 cm placed 1-2 seeds per small depth (2-3 cm). Above, the soil is compacted a little. Seedlings of calendula should appear after about 10 days, depending on humidity and temperature. For growth and development, plants need a temperature regime of at least 14 ° C. It is necessary to carefully care for seedlings - timely watering, loosening the soil and weeding. It is also necessary to dilute the young plants so that in each "nest" there remains one shoot. And the tops of calendula need to be plucked, so that the bush subsequently becomes more branchy. The plant will blossom in about 45 days and will continue to please you with its bright colors until the frosts. Do not forget that discolored heads should be removed. Seeds of marigold harvested at the end of July (early August), warning of self-seeding.

Calendula: planting and care. Collection of inflorescences for medicinal purposes

For medicinal purposes, the inflorescence of calendula should be collected during the summer period several times, maintaining a time interval (4-5 days) between charges. Choose well-opened flowers. After collection, the material is well dried and stored in cloth or paper bags in a cool room.