When to plant Calendula
Also called pot marigold, this easy cool-season annual has edible, golden petals used in cooking and skin salves. It prefers cool weather and self-sows readily. Regular deadheading keeps it blooming from spring well into fall.
Companions: Tomato, asparagus, brassicas — a useful pest-trap and pollinator plant
How to grow Calendula
Calendula is best direct-sown straight into the garden, as it dislikes being transplanted. Give it full sun to part shade and space plants about 10 inches apart. It takes roughly 50 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. It also supports a fall sowing for a second harvest. Classic companions include tomato, asparagus, brassicas — a useful pest-trap and pollinator plant.
Grower's tip: Cool-season and edible; deadhead often and it'll bloom from spring into fall.
When to plant Calendula by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same calendula goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Direct sow outdoors Jun 1–Jun 29 Direct sow outdoors Jun 20–Jul 4 |
| Zone 1b | Direct sow outdoors May 27–Jun 24 Direct sow outdoors Jun 25–Jul 9 |
| Zone 2a | Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 14 |
| Zone 2b | Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 21 |
| Zone 3a | Direct sow outdoors May 11–Jun 8 Direct sow outdoors Jul 14–Jul 28 |
| Zone 3b | Direct sow outdoors May 6–Jun 3 Direct sow outdoors Jul 18–Aug 1 |
| Zone 4a | Direct sow outdoors May 1–May 29 Direct sow outdoors Jul 24–Aug 7 |
| Zone 4b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 26–May 24 Direct sow outdoors Jul 28–Aug 11 |
| Zone 5a | Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 20 |
| Zone 5b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 24 |
| Zone 6a | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 5 |
| Zone 6b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 13 |
| Zone 7a | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 21 |
| Zone 7b | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Sep 29 |
| Zone 8a | Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 7 |
| Zone 8b | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 14 |
| Zone 9a | Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 24 |
| Zone 9b | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 3 |
| Zone 10a | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 16 |
| Zone 10b | Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 29 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Zone 11a | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Zone 11b | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Zone 12a | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Zone 12b | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Zone 13a | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Zone 13b | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |