The calendula, scientifically known as calendula officinalis and locally as gul-e-ashrafi, is a daisy-like flower. Belonging to the asteraceae family, the flower is locally found in yellow and orange colours, but more than a dozen varieties of this flower with different variations exist across the world. It is also known as pot marigold even though it does not have any relation to the marigold family.

Being an edible flower, calendula adds rich colour to different meals and can also be eaten in salads, which is why it is known as the ‘poor man’s saffron’.

For centuries, many wound-healing attributes and medicinal health benefits have been believed to be associated with the calendula. From treating indigestion and smallpox in the Middle Ages to the eventual treatment of the scorpion sting by the Ancient Romans, the calendula was regarded as an essential remedy for such ailments.

Herbalists still consider the calendula to be of great use when it comes to skincare issues, including sunburns, cuts, minor burns, scrapes and chapped lips. It is also believed to possess antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties.

While the calendula is renowned for its beauty, this flowering plant also has many gardening and medicinal benefits

The calendula is a very easy-to-maintain flower which must be grown by all home-gardeners for a number of reasons. It is considered to be the best companion plant for your vegetables and herbs. It is best to grow calendulas among carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, peas and other such vegetables.

Not only will the blazing colours of the flowers beautify your garden, they will also help attract pollinators like honey bees. These pollinators help to pollinate and fertilise the flowers of vegetable and fruit plants. Not only does the calendula attract pest predators to the garden, it also lures other insects towards itself which would otherwise destroy the fruits and vegetables. The calendula is a pest-repellant as well because its foliage drives away many pests from the plant-growing space.

It is a hardy plant and can be easily grown in a variety of areas. Other than being used as a filler companion plant for vegetables and planting hedges, the calendula plant can also be grown in small pots to decorate your house.

The plants are generally a foot to two feet high and can be easily grown from the plant’s seeds. If you are using it as a companion plant, you may sow the seeds directly near your vegetable patch. However, considering its attractive flowers, my suggestion would be to grow it in pots and then later shift it to different places, as per your liking.

The best time to sow the seeds would be during the spring season. The ideal temperature for seed germination would be around 18 to 25 degrees Celsius. The soil for sowing the seeds should be well-drained and it should have enough compost matter so that the seeds can easily germinate. The space between the two seeds being sown should be at least four inches on either side.

These seeds can be sown in two ways. The first way is to simply put the seed on the surface and cover it with a thin layer of sprinkled compost. Another way is to make a depression in the surface which is twice the size of the seed, put the seed in that hole and then cover it with the soil.

Water the recently sown seed generously, such that if it is sown in a pot then the excess water should come out of its drainage hole. However, make sure that the seeds do not get displaced from their original place due to excessive watering.

Place the pots under a shade or cover them to avoid direct exposure to sunlight, in order to keep the soil moist till germination. The seeds should ideally germinate in seven to 15 days, depending upon the seed quality and temperature.

Once the seeds germinate, gradually place the plants in direct sunlight for about an hour or two. Later, as the saplings form, shift the plant to a permanent place where there is maximum sunlight from morning to noon. After the sapling stage, feed the plant every fortnight with any nitrogen-based fertiliser. Generally the buds start appearing in five to six weeks. At this stage, start adding potassium-based fertilisers as well. The bright calendula flowers usually start to blossom in eight to 10 weeks.

The unwanted pests that may generally attack the calendula plant include mealy bugs, aphids, spider-mites and leaf-miners. To fend off these pests, any organic pesticide may be prophylactically used from the sapling stage after every 15 to 20 days.

The calendula plant is grown as an ornamental flowering plant by many solely due to its beautiful flowers. However, considering its wealth of medical and gardening-related benefits, I would highly recommend growing it as a companion plant in your garden.

Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel ‘DocTree Gardening’ promoting organic kitchen gardening

Published in Dawn, EOS, January 29th, 2023