Seeds, seeds and more seeds!
February is the month of seeds at our farm. Combing through seed catalogues, ordering long awaited favorites and new and exciting varieties (along with last minute add-ons I just can’t resist!) And then when the packages of seeds begin to arrive in the mail…it’s like Christmas all over again! (I heard that chuckle, but some of you know exactly what I’m saying.) Nearly all of the plants we grow in our garden start from seed in our greenhouse. My favorite part of gardening is planting and awaiting that new life that springs forth from the soil. There is something awesome and humbling to participate in helping a living organism emerge.
One of my favorite medicinal flowers that is easy to grow from seed is calendula. It is an amazing edible flower that is beautiful and if loved it can produce blooms all summer and fall. Here in our area, it can be grown as an annual or as a perennial. If growing as a perennial, you will need to add a layer of mulch in late fall to help it survive any cold snaps we have during the winter months. If you prefer to grow it as an annual, you will find that it readily self-seeds and can quickly fill a flower bed. You will find that calendula is primarily found in shades of orange, although the flower can range from yellow to pink and red. One of my favorite new varieties of calendula is Strawberry Blonde. Its beautiful peach-colored petals with burgundy backsides and centers make a beautiful addition not only to the flower bed, but to salads and soups as well.
Calendula has a long history as a powerhouse medicinal herb. It has been associated with the sun since ancient times and its medicinal use has been found mentioned in 5,000-year-old Egyptian hieroglyphics. Calendula, along with yarrow, was commonly used as battlefield medicine to help stop bleeding. It is most commonly associated with its effect on skin issues such as wounds, abrasions, burns, bruises, slow healing sores, and lesions such as shingles and measles. Because it is believed to smooth wrinkles, it is also frequently used in skincare products. We have included it in our Basil Calendula Salve which can be used for many issues including diaper rash and scars.
Calendula has also been used as an eye wash for pink eye, infused in oil for earaches and infused in water to create a mouthwash. It is used to address stomach and intestinal ulcers, relieve menstrual cramps and regulate menses, and treat fungal and yeast infections such as thrush, athletes’ foot, and vaginal yeast infections. The flowers are also used as a natural dye for fabrics and to color butter and cheese.
Calendula is antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, emmenagogue, lymphatic, antifungal, and astringent. When using for medicinal purposes you will use the entire flower. Although the petals contain carotene and other vitamins, the center and green sepal are the most medicinally potent part of the flower. The center can be quite bitter, so only the petals and leaves are most commonly used in culinary preparations. Flowers can be used fresh or dried and should be harvested in late morning or early afternoon after the dew has dried. Be aware there are some warnings associated with calendula: Because of how it can affect menses and can cause a sedating effect, do not use INTERNALLY during pregnancy and do not combine with pharmaceutical sedatives. 1
If you’d like to start growing medicinal herbs and flowers from seed, try calendula. You won’t be disappointed with this easy to grow beauty.
Jessica
1 https://homesteadacademy.com/courses/homegrown-herbalist/sections/individual-plant-lessons/lessons/calendula-monograph/