Calendula 'Neon'

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Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Neon is generally regarded as a tender plant, so remember to wait until your soil is warm and the night time temperature is well above freezing before moving outside. Neon needs a loamy soil with a ph of 6.1 to 7.8 (weakly acidic soil to weakly alkaline soil).

Sow March to May. Sow seeds outdoors where they are to flower. Prepare the ground well and rake to a fine tilth before sowing. Sow 12mm (½in) deep, in rows 30cm (12in) apart.

For spring/summer flowering pot plants: Sow in a cool greenhouse or conservatory in late summer/early autumn. Grow on cool in full light and water sparingly.

Sow 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) deep with a guideline distance of 7.8 inches (20.0 cm). For optimal germination, soil temperature should be a minimum of 10°C / 50°F.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Neon about 35 days before your last frost date.

Neon is tender, so ensure you wait until all danger of frost has passed in your area before considering planting outside.

The petals can be used as a substitute for saffron in soups, rice or omlettes. They also look good in salads.