Calendula 'Needles and Pins'

Remove old flower heads to encourage new blooms

A full sun position will ensure your plant thrives and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Needles and Pins is thought of as half hardy, so it will need cloching or fleece protection when the temperature dips. Needles and Pins requires a loamy soil with a ph of 6.1 - 7.8 - it grows best in weakly acidic soil to weakly alkaline soil.

Sow direct into pre warteded soil in late spring. Can be sown earlier indoors

Look to ensure a distance 7.8 inches (20.0 cm) between seeds when sowing - bury at a depth of at least 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) deep. Soil temperature should be kept higher than 10°C / 50°F to ensure good germination.

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

Sow direct or plant out late spring after hardening off

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Needles and Pins is a half hardy plant.

Calenduar petals are edible and used in salad. Pharmaceutically used to make ointments to help heal bruises