Calendula Seed Pack

Few herb gardens are complete without calendula’s vibrant orange flowers that can be eaten in salads or made into soothing salves. 

The perfect example of a plant capturing the healing properties of summer sunshine, calendula radiates health. 

Calendula is one of the easiest herbs to grow. The seed can be scattered directly into a bed and you will have an abundance of flowers within 2-3 months. It is a good ‘gateway herb’ to introduce new growers into the joys of herb gardening, and an essential component of a ‘green aid kit’ for the more experienced herb grower. 

The variety we grow has several layers of petals, producing a higher yield than ordinary single petalled varieties. 

Sowing and Growing 

Calendula is easy to grow from seed. If you want to get started early you can sow indoors in early spring. The ideal time is around six to eight weeks before the last frost date, which in the UK means sometime in early March. Transplant the seedlings once they have grown a few leaves, allowing a spacing of around 6-10 inches between the plants. 

Or you can wait until mid-April and sow the seed directly into its final growing position. To prolong the flowering period you can continue with successive sowing until early summer. But don’t wait too long, as the plants tend to become smaller and weaker when sown in hotter weather. 

Whichever method you use, be sure to fully cover the seed with soil as any exposure to light will reduce germination. The ideal sowing depth is around 0.5 to 1.5cm. Keep the soil moist until germination. 

Uses and Benefits 

The benefits of calendula are linked to its energetic character, as expressed through its constituents. The flowers, and infusions or tinctures made from them, taste slightly soapy (due to the detergent saponins), slightly aromatic and weakly bitter. There is a lingering almost resinous astringency in the mouth. You can also appreciate the resin-like properties on your fingers by crushing the flowerheads. 

Calendula was once seen as the classic ‘cicatrizer’: a remedy that induces wound healing by knitting the exposed tissues. This is also a famous property of comfrey root: however given comfrey’s potential safety concerns if it gets into the body, calendula may be the wound remedy that can be most recommended where the skin is broken. 

The strongest reputation of this remedy was in its healing and astringent action: sufficient to make it an effective stauncher of bleeding. It thus found use in earlier times where there were infected or slow-healing wounds or lesions, or ones discharging or bleeding too extensively. Its effectiveness (as a compress) in healing bullet wounds was reported enthusiastically by a Dr Reynolds in the American West in 1886. 

Calendula’s effects on the skin is used in bruising, abrasions, slow-healing wounds, burns, insect bites and generalised skin inflammations. It will help clear the site of infection whilst also supporting wound-healing. It is also indicated where there is broken skin and itching in more chronic skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. Its a a good first aid remedy for minor burns, bleeding cuts and abrasions, sores, ulcers, acne, eczema, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, skin infections such as athlete’s foot and ringworm, shingles, sunburn, nappy rash, bruises, sprains and strains. Apply infusion or dilute tincture to reduce swelling and pain. The crushed flower can be rubbed on to insect bites, wasp or bee stings. The tincture (preferably involving high alcohol content) is an excellent mouthwash for inflamed gums, mouth ulcers, and throat inflammations. An infusion in hot water can be used as a douche for vaginal infections, eyewash for tired eyes, and inflammatory eye conditions such as styes. 

Calendula tincture makes an effective addition to local applications to combat fungal and other infections of the skin and other exposed surfaces. It makes a powerful mouthwash to check gum disease, sore throat, and mouth problems and in infusion form only, as an eyewash. In ointment form it is an excellent cosmetic remedy for repairing minor damage to the skin such as subdermal broken capillaries or sunburn. 

The flowers are also used for any inflammation in the upper part of the digestive system. Calendula will also encourage bile production, which can help relieve painful indigestion, digestive insufficiency and conditions such as jaundice and liver inefficiencies. The high alcohol extracts have been a feature of regimes for dysbiosis and Candidiasis. 

Calendula improves the circulation, reducing congestion and toning the blood vessels, especially the veins. It can be used in poor circulation, varicose veins, haemorrhoids and internal bleeding associated with injury. This can also help encourage the start of menstruation and soothe any pain. 

Harvesting and Preparation 

Harvest the flowers throughout the Summer as each one comes to their peak. You can ‘peel’ the flower heads gently off the stalk with your fingers or snip the head just below the base of the flower. They go to seed very quickly so keep an eye on this and keep harvesting every few days. 

As a tea take 2-5g of the dried flower head. 

For a tincture using the dried flowers make a 1:5@25%. 

For an oil macerate some fresh-flowers in a double-boiler/bain marie at a ratio of 1:4. 

Or you can make a salve or a herbal cream. 

One potential downside of the sesquiterpene lactones is that they can act as mild to potent allergens for susceptible individuals. Reported reactions have ranged from varying degrees of allergic contact dermatitis all the way up to severe anaphylaxis requiring emergency treatment. Because these compounds are so widely distributed among the Asteraceae, cross reactions can easily occur. A person might become sensitized to the sesquiterpene lactones in one plant (e.g., Ragweeds – Ambrosia spp.) and subsequently will have a reaction to a novel species (e.g., Chamomile or Yarrow) in the family. This is why the herbalist should be cautious when using Asteraceae herbs with people who have a tendency toward respiratory and contact allergies or problems with chronic eczema / atopic dermatitis.