Pot Marigold Seed Pack
Calendula officinalis
The easiest flower of all — and you can eat it.
1,000 seeds per pack · one-off purchase, no subscription
Buy now- 1,000 seeds, hand-packed in a labelled inner packet with a printed quick-start card
- Dispatched within 1–3 business days, tracked, to any UK address
- Germination guarantee: if they don't sprout, we send them again
Why grow it
- Autumn-sown plants flower weeks earlier in spring — often the first colour in the whole garden
- The petals are edible: scatter them on salads and cakes, a built-in project for children
When to sow
Sow September to early October, direct — often the first flower of spring.
| Scotland & the North | Sow now — early to mid September (Scotland's window closes ~2 weeks earlier) |
|---|---|
| Midlands, Wales & Northern Ireland | Sow September to early October |
| South of England | Sow September to late September (mildest South West: into early October) |
Growing questions
Is it really beginner-proof?
As close as gardening gets. Large seeds, fast germination in warm September soil, hardy seedlings, no staking, no feeding. The one thing it asks for is a reasonably sunny spot with soil that doesn't sit waterlogged.
Are the petals genuinely edible?
Yes — calendula petals have been used in kitchens for centuries (it's sometimes called poor man's saffron). Pull the petals from the flower head and use them fresh on salads, rice or baking. Eat the petals, not the whole head, and only from plants you grew without sprays.
When will it flower from a September sowing?
Usually among the very first annuals to bloom in spring — well ahead of anything sown in March, and in a mild winter it may even open the odd flower before Christmas. Regular picking keeps it going for months.
How do I sow it with children?
Perfectly suited to small hands: the seeds are big and oddly shaped, so counting them into 2 cm-deep holes is the whole job. Water once, then let autumn do the rest. Germination is quick enough to hold a child's attention.
