250 Seeds

Grow a garden filled with Balls Improved Orange Calendula, from freshly harvested Calendula officinalis flower seeds. Balls Improved Orange will produce 2.5 inch, bright orange flowers, atop attractive foliage. The leaves are oblong and lance shaped. Each Balls Improved Orange Calendula plant will reach a mature height of roughly 12 to 24 inches tall. The blooms themselves consist of rows of fairly spaced petals, resembling a zinnia's formation.

Balls Improved Orange is categorized as an annual flowering plant. Annuals will grow quickly from fresh flower seeds, bloom profusely through the summer months, and later die with the first frost. If seeds are collected from the Balls Improved Orange Calendula, new plants can be established the following spring. Calendula plants can also readily self seed, by dropping their seeds to the bare ground beneath. Although Ball's Improved Orange, as well as other Calendula, won't require much maintenance, we do recommend deadheading the plants. Deadheading, or the removal of old, spent blooms will prolong bloom time, up until the end of the Autumn season. If you don't deadhead your Calendula blooms, the plants are known to go directly to seed, thus ending the flowering cycle.

Balls Improved Orange Calendula is a versatile, flowering plant. They can be grown directly in the garden, in flower beds, raised beds, along fences, driveways & walkways, or even in pots and containers as well. Calendula, also referred to as "Pot Marigold," is an edible flowering plant, which can be added to salads or enjoyed as a garnish. The Pot Marigold is also used for its oils & is often times used as a medicinal herb as well.

Quick Facts

• Type: Flower
• Color: Orange
• Height: 12" - 24" Tall
• Width: 12" - 18" Spread
• Season: Annual
• Zones: 3 to 10
• Environment: Full sun / light shade
• Uses: Flower beds, along walkways, borders or driveways. Great as a cut flower in fresh and dried bouquets.

Sowing The Seed

Calendula seeds can be sown indoors, or directly outdoors as well. If started indoors, sow in peat pots, 6 to 8 weeks prior to the last frost. Sow 3 to 4 seeds per pot, at a shallow depth of about 1/16" under topsoil. Transplant entire peat pots into the garden, or direct sow when the weather is warm and all danger of frost has passed.

Growing Conditions

Calendula plants will thrive in an area of full sunlight to light shade. They prefer temperatures that are around 70F and aren't too picky on soil conditions. Actually, Calendula plants can thrive in even the poorest, sandy soils. Just make sure that the sowing medium is well drained. To increase drainage, we recommend adding a light compost to areas containing hard, compact soil. Water daily with a spray bottle, or mist setting to avoid drowning the seeds.

Germination & Growth

Calendula seeds are known to germinate in roughly 7 to 14 days after sowing. The plants can reach a mature height of roughly 12 to 24 inches tall and can be spaced about 12 to 18 inches apart from one another. Balls Improved Orange will produce gorgeous, 2.5 inch, orange blooms. The flower heads are edible and go great in salads, to add a bit of extra color.