Medicinal & Aromatic· Calendula officinalis

Calendula Growing Guide

Annual herb with bright orange-yellow flowers cultivated for medicinal use in skin preparations, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory products. Also used as a natural food colorant.

How Long Does Calendula Take to Grow?

Calendula is typically ready to harvest about 50 days after planting.

Days to Harvest

1,350

kg dried flowers/hectare

moderate

Water Needs

full sun

Sun Needs

Growing Conditions

Temperature

10-25°C optimal

Rainfall

400-900 mm/year

Frost Tolerance

light

Drought Tolerance

moderate

Humidity

moderate tolerance

Heat Tolerance

low

Soil Requirements

Soil Type & pH

Best soil types: loam, sandy loam, clay loam

pH range: 5.5 - 7 (optimal: 6.3)

Drainage: good

Nutrient Needs (N-P-K)

Nitrogen (N)moderate

Phosphorus (P)moderate

Potassium (K)moderate

Planting Guide

Planting Methods

direct seeding, transplanting

Planting Depth

1 cm

Plant Spacing

30 cm apart, 45 cm rows

Planting Season

spring, fall

Yield & Economics

Yield Range

300 - 1,750 kg dried flowers/ha

Market Demand

growing

Profitability

medium

Harvests/Year

Common Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

aphids
whiteflies
slugs

Common Diseases

powdery mildew
downy mildew
leaf spot

Use AI crop disease detection to identify issues early and prevent crop losses.

Growing Tips

Deadhead regularly or harvest flowers frequently to encourage continuous blooming throughout the season.

Harvest fully open flowers on dry mornings after dew has evaporated; dry at temperatures below 40C to preserve active compounds.

Calendula tolerates light frost and can be succession-sown every 2-3 weeks for extended harvest periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Calendula take to grow?

Calendula typically takes 50 days from planting to harvest. Seeds germinate in about 7 days. The best planting season is spring, fall.

What soil does Calendula need?

Calendula grows best in loam, sandy loam, clay loam soil with a pH of 5.5-7. Good drainage is required.

What temperature does Calendula need?

Calendula grows best at 10-25°C. Frost tolerance: light. Heat tolerance: low.

What is the expected yield for Calendula?

Across 8 countries with grounded data, reported national yields for Calendula range from 300 to 1,750 kg dried flowers/hectare, with a median of 1,350. These are national statistics, not a best-case figure — an individual farm's yield depends on variety, climate, soil and management. Multiple harvests per year are possible (4).