Goudsbloem

Calendula officinalis

Engels: Calendula

annualAsteraceaeEetbaar

Goudsbloem (Calendula officinalis) is a edible annual from the Asteraceae family that grows up to 60cm tall. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires low maintenance. Blooms in summer and late summer and autumn with orange, yellow flowers and attracts bees and butterflies.

Hoogte

30–60 cm

Breedte

20–30 cm

Zonligging

full sun, partial shade

Waterbehoefte

low water needs

Grondsoort

loam, sandy soil

Onderhoud

low maintenance

Bloeitijd

summer, late summer, autumn

Bloemkleuren

orange, yellow

Ecologische waarde

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Verzorgingskalender

Taak	Jan	Feb	Mrt	Apr	Mei	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Okt	Nov	Dec
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Care tips

Planting

Calendula is a hardy annual that thrives in full sun or partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soil types, though it performs best in loam or sandy soil with good drainage. It's unfussy about fertility and actually flowers more profusely in moderately fertile ground than in overly rich soil. You can sow calendula directly outdoors from March through May for summer flowering, or in September for an early spring display the following year. Autumn-sown plants often overwinter successfully in zones 7–9 and produce stronger, earlier blooms. Prepare the soil by removing weeds and raking to a fine tilth. Sow seeds thinly, about 1 cm deep, either in drills or scattered in drifts. Calendula germinates readily in cool conditions—often within ten to fourteen days. Once seedlings have two or three true leaves, thin them to 25 cm apart to allow good air circulation and prevent mildew. You can transplant the thinnings if you handle them gently and water them in well. If you prefer to start plants indoors, sow in modules six to eight weeks before your last expected frost, then harden off and plant out after danger of severe frost has passed. Space transplants 25 cm apart. Water newly sown or transplanted calendula gently to settle the soil, but avoid waterlogging. A light mulch of garden compost helps retain moisture during establishment, though calendula's low water needs mean it copes well once settled. Staking is unnecessary; the bushy plants are self-supporting even in exposed sites.

Pruning

Calendula does not require formal pruning in the traditional sense—there are no woody stems to cut back and no specific pruning months apply. What it does need is regular deadheading throughout the flowering season, which runs from June through to the first frosts in autumn. This simple task is the key to keeping your plants productive and prolonging the display. Remove spent flowerheads every few days by pinching or snipping them off just above a leaf joint or side shoot. Use your fingers or a pair of small secateurs or scissors. Deadheading prevents the plant from setting seed, which would otherwise signal the end of flowering and cause the plant to decline. Regular removal encourages calendula to produce a continuous succession of fresh blooms well into September and often October if the weather remains mild. If you want to save seed for next year's sowing, allow a few flowerheads to mature fully on the plant towards the end of the season. The distinctive curved seeds form in a ring and turn brown when ripe. Harvest them on a dry day, store in a paper envelope, and they'll remain viable for several years. Calendula often self-seeds generously if you leave some late flowers to set seed naturally. Seedlings will appear the following spring in the same area, and you can thin or transplant them as needed. At the end of the season, once flowering has finished and frost has blackened the foliage, simply pull up the entire plant and add it to your compost heap. There's no overwintering structure to protect or cut back.

Maintenance

Calendula is a low-maintenance annual with modest water and nutrient needs. Once established, it has low water requirements and tolerates dry spells well, making it ideal for sunny borders and containers. Water young plants regularly during their first few weeks, especially in dry spring weather, but after that you only need to water during prolonged drought. Overwatering or poorly drained soil can lead to root rot and mildew, so err on the side of caution. Feeding is not necessary. Calendula grows and flowers perfectly well without supplementary fertiliser, and rich soil or heavy feeding can result in lush foliage at the expense of flowers. If your soil is very poor or you're growing in containers, a single application of a balanced liquid feed in midsummer is more than sufficient, but most gardeners find it thrives on neglect. Calendula is generally trouble-free, but powdery mildew can appear in late summer, especially in crowded plantings or during humid weather. Ensure good spacing and air circulation, and remove affected leaves promptly. Aphids occasionally cluster on young shoots and buds; a strong jet of water or a spray of insecticidal soap usually resolves the problem. Slugs may nibble seedlings in spring, so protect young plants with grit or organic pellets if necessary. Calendula is fully hardy and requires no special overwintering care in zones 7–9. Autumn-sown plants will often survive mild winters and flower earlier the following year. A light mulch of compost in late autumn can help protect September sowings in colder gardens, but it's rarely essential.