How to Grow, Harvest & Dry Calendula
If you want to grow an herb that's beautiful, useful, and beginner-friendly, calendula deserves a spot in your garden.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) produces cheerful yellow and orange flowers that can brighten a garden for months. Even better, those flowers can be harvested and dried for herbal teas, infused oils, salves, soaps, and other home apothecary projects.
And the more flowers you pick, the more the plant tends to keep producing.
Here's how to grow calendula from seed, harvest the flowers, dry them properly, and store your harvest for later use.
What Is Calendula?
Calendula is an annual flowering herb in the Asteraceae family.
You may also hear it called:
- Pot marigold
- Garden calendula
- Common calendula
- English marigold
Despite those names, calendula shouldn't be confused with the common ornamental marigolds belonging to the Tagetes genus.
If you're growing calendula for herbal use, look for the botanical name:
Calendula officinalis
Botanical names are especially useful when common plant names overlap.
Is Calendula Easy to Grow?
Yes!
Calendula is one of my favorite herbs for beginning gardeners because it doesn't require complicated growing conditions.
It generally prefers:
- Full sun
- Well-drained soil
- Moderate watering
- Cooler growing conditions
Calendula can tolerate some partial shade, particularly in hotter climates.
In areas with very hot summers, plants may slow down or stop flowering during the hottest weather and begin blooming again when temperatures cool.
When Should You Plant Calendula?
Calendula generally prefers cooler temperatures.
Seeds can be planted outdoors around spring once the soil can be worked and conditions are appropriate for your area.
You can also start seeds indoors several weeks before your expected last frost and transplant the seedlings outside.
Another option is succession planting.
Instead of planting all your calendula at once, sow smaller batches a few weeks apart. This can help extend your harvest.
Depending on your climate, you may also be able to plant another crop for fall flowers.
How to Plant Calendula Seeds
Calendula seeds have an unusual curved shape that makes them easy to recognize.
Plant them approximately ¼ to ½ inch deep in prepared soil.
Keep the soil consistently moist while the seeds germinate, but avoid keeping it waterlogged.
Once seedlings emerge and begin growing, thin or transplant them so each plant has enough space for good airflow and healthy growth.
Always check your specific seed packet as spacing and planting recommendations can vary by cultivar.
Growing Calendula in Containers
Don't have a large garden?
Calendula can also grow in containers.
Choose a pot with good drainage and give the plants plenty of sunlight.
Container-grown calendula can be a great option for:
- Patios
- Porches
- Balconies
- Small herb gardens
- Raised-bed areas
You can even mix calendula into ornamental planters because the flowers are beautiful enough to earn their place among traditional garden flowers.
How Much Sun Does Calendula Need?
Calendula generally performs best with full sun.
However, in areas with very hot summers, some afternoon shade may help.
If your plants become stressed or stop blooming during extreme summer heat, don't necessarily assume you've done something wrong.
Calendula simply prefers cooler conditions than many heat-loving summer flowers.
How Often Should You Water Calendula?
Water newly planted calendula regularly while the plants become established.
Once established, water as needed based on your soil, rainfall, and weather conditions.
The goal is moist but well-drained soil.
Avoid constantly soggy soil.
Watering near the base of the plant rather than repeatedly soaking the foliage can also help reduce unnecessary leaf moisture.
When Does Calendula Bloom?
Calendula can begin producing flowers relatively quickly after planting.
Once flowering begins, you may be able to harvest blossoms repeatedly for weeks or even months.
And there's a trick to encouraging more flowers:
Pick them.
Regularly harvesting or deadheading calendula flowers encourages the plant to continue producing additional blooms rather than putting all of its energy into seed production.
For an herbal gardener, that's exactly what we want.
When Should You Harvest Calendula Flowers?
Harvest flowers when they're fully open and healthy.
A dry day is ideal.
If possible, wait until morning dew has evaporated before harvesting.
You don't want to collect soaking-wet flower heads if you're planning to dry them.
Look for flowers that are:
- Fully open
- Brightly colored
- Healthy
- Free from obvious disease
- Relatively clean
Avoid flowers that are already turning brown or beginning to develop seeds.
How to Harvest Calendula
Calendula harvesting is wonderfully simple.
You can pinch off the flower heads with your fingers or use clean garden snips.
Collect them in a:
- Basket
- Harvesting apron
- Paper bag
- Shallow container
Avoid tightly packing damp flowers into plastic bags where moisture can become trapped.
And don't be afraid to harvest frequently.
Check your plants every few days during peak flowering.
You may be surprised how quickly new blossoms appear.
Should You Harvest Just the Petals or the Whole Flower?
Both approaches are used.
Some people remove and dry only the colorful petals.
Others harvest and dry the entire flower head, including the green base beneath the petals.
Whole dried flower heads are commonly used for herbal infusions and infused oils.
If you're following a specific herbal recipe, check whether it calls for whole flowers or petals.
Should You Wash Calendula Before Drying?
If you've grown calendula organically in your own clean garden, washing may not always be necessary.
Instead, gently inspect the flowers and remove:
- Dirt
- Damaged material
- Insects
- Other plant debris
And yes—check carefully.
Tiny insects love hiding inside flowers.
If you do wash your calendula, remove as much surface moisture as possible before beginning the drying process.
Excess moisture will make drying slower and can increase the risk of spoilage.
How to Dry Calendula Flowers
Calendula flower heads contain more moisture than thin leaves and petals, so they need good airflow and adequate drying time.
There are several ways to dry them.
Method #1: Drying Screens
Spread calendula flowers in a single layer across an herb drying screen.
Don't pile the flowers on top of one another.
Place the screen somewhere:
- Warm
- Dry
- Well ventilated
- Away from strong direct sunlight
Check and turn the flowers periodically.
Method #2: Food Dehydrator
A dehydrator can be particularly useful if your home is humid.
Arrange the flowers in a single layer on the trays.
Use a low temperature appropriate for drying herbs, following your dehydrator manufacturer's recommendations.
The goal is to remove moisture—not cook the flowers.
Method #3: Hanging Drying Rack
Mesh hanging herb-drying racks are another convenient option.
They provide good airflow while allowing you to dry a fairly large harvest without taking up much counter space.
They're especially handy when you're harvesting calendula every few days throughout the summer.
How Long Does Calendula Take to Dry?
Drying time varies considerably depending on:
- Humidity
- Temperature
- Airflow
- Flower size
- Whether you're drying petals or whole flower heads
- Your drying method
Don't rely entirely on a certain number of days.
Instead, learn to recognize completely dried plant material.
How Do You Know When Calendula Is Completely Dry?
Properly dried calendula should feel crisp and dry.
Pay special attention to the thick green base of whole flower heads.
The petals may feel dry while the center still contains moisture.
That's important because storing flowers before they're completely dry can lead to spoilage.
When in doubt:
Give them more drying time.
This is especially important if you're planning to use the dried flowers to make an infused oil.
Why Calendula Must Be Dry Before Making Infused Oil
Oil and water don't play nicely when you're trying to make a shelf-stable herbal infusion.
Fresh flowers contain water.
If excess moisture is introduced into an herbal oil, it can increase the risk of microbial growth and spoilage.
That's why I recommend beginners use thoroughly dried calendula flowers for traditional oil infusions intended for storage.
Once they're completely dry, you can use them to make:
Calendula Infused Oil
which can then become the base for salves, balms, soaps, and other skincare preparations.
See our complete guide:
How to Make Calendula Infused Oil at Home
How to Store Dried Calendula
Once your flowers are completely dry, transfer them into a clean, airtight container.
Glass jars work beautifully.
Label the container with:
Calendula
Calendula officinalis
Harvest Date
Then store it somewhere:
- Cool
- Dark
- Dry
- Away from direct sunlight
Light, heat, moisture, and air can gradually reduce the quality of dried herbs.
A cabinet or herbal pantry works well.
Should You Crush Calendula Before Storage?
Usually, I prefer storing dried herbs as intact as practical.
Whole flowers and larger pieces have less surface area exposed to air than finely crushed plant material.
You can break them apart when you're ready to use them.
Plus, there's something especially beautiful about opening a jar filled with whole golden calendula flowers.
How Long Does Dried Calendula Last?
Dried herbs don't suddenly become useless on a specific date, but their quality gradually declines over time.
Proper storage makes a big difference.
Periodically inspect your calendula.
Good dried flowers should retain noticeable:
- Color
- Aroma
- Overall plant quality
Discard herbs showing moisture, mold, unusual odors, insect contamination, or other signs of deterioration.
For a home apothecary, labeling your harvest with the year makes rotating your herbs much easier.
Can Calendula Reseed Itself?
Yes—and this can be one of the nicest things about growing it.
If you leave some flowers on the plants rather than harvesting every single blossom, they'll eventually produce seeds.
Those seeds may fall to the ground and produce new plants under favorable conditions.
You can also intentionally collect the dried seeds for planting the following year.
How to Save Calendula Seeds
Choose a few healthy flowers toward the end of the season and allow them to remain on the plant.
Instead of deadheading them, let the flower heads mature and dry.
Calendula seeds are curved and unusually shaped, so they're easy to recognize once you've seen them.
Collect the mature, dry seeds and store them in a labeled paper envelope somewhere cool and dry until planting season.
Your original packet of calendula seeds could potentially turn into years of homegrown flowers.
Create Your Own Garden-to-Apothecary Cycle
This is one of my favorite things about growing medicinal and useful herbs.
You can start with a handful of seeds.
Grow the plants.
Harvest the flowers.
Dry them.
Make an herbal infusion.
Turn that infusion into a salve or skincare product.
Save some seeds.
And begin the entire cycle again next spring.
Calendula makes that process particularly approachable for beginners.
One Little Flower, So Many Possibilities
Calendula doesn't require a huge garden or years of herbal experience.
A small patch can produce an impressive number of flowers throughout the growing season.
Those flowers can then become ingredients for teas, infused oils, salves, soaps, balms, and other herbal projects.
Or you can simply enjoy their bright orange and yellow blooms in your garden.
Either way, calendula is one of those herbs that tends to earn its place year after year.
Continue Learning About Calendula
This article is part of our Calendula Herb Guide Series.
Continue with:
- Calendula Benefits & Uses: A Beginner's Guide to This Skin-Loving Herb
- Calendula for Skin: Why Herbalists Love This Golden Flower
- How to Make Calendula Infused Oil at Home
- Calendula vs. Marigold: Are They the Same Thing?
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This information is provided for educational purposes only. Always positively identify plants before using them, and use appropriate sanitation, drying, storage, formulation, and preservation practices when making herbal products.