When to plant and prune Pot marigold (calendula)
Pot marigold (calendula) flowers from mid June to early October and the dates below cover planting, flowering and the pruning window.
Planting, flowering and pruning by region
Pot marigold (calendula) is grown to the calendar rather than to the frost, so the same dates apply across the whole UK and every region below reads the same. Where a plant’s timings do follow the frost, Plot shifts them from the Midlands and Lowland Wales baseline using Met Office average frost dates.
| Where you are | Plant | In flower | Prune |
|---|---|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
| South Coast and Channel | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
| South East and Home Counties | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
| East Anglia | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
| Wales and West Coast | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
| Northern England | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
| Northern Ireland | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | early March to early May | mid June to early October | mid June to late September |
Growing notes
A hardy annual - it can be sown direct in situ in spring or in autumn, and autumn sowings flower much earlier the following year. Flowers in long succession through summer and autumn until the first hard frosts, then dies; it self-seeds freely and will reappear without help. Petals are edible and peppery. Single, open flowers are excellent for bees and hoverflies.
At a glance
- Spacing
- 30 cm between plants
- Eventual height
- 40 cm
- Eventual spread
- 35 cm
- Hardiness
- H5
- Sun
- Full
- Frost tender
- No
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 10 litres or more
- Balcony rating
- 4 out of 5
Pruning group
Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering and pinch out terminal shoots to encourage bushy growth; cut back after flowering
What usually goes wrong
- aphids
- powdery mildew
- virus
- self-seeding into unwanted places
- poor growth on wet, over-rich soil
Related guides
Timings cross-checked against RHS guidance for pot marigold (calendula).