3 years ago in late October, I saw some flowers still blooming in a divider strip between a gas station and a shopping area. It was my first introduction to calendula, but I didn't know what they were. But blooms in late October in New York got my attention, so I pulled some out with roots and planted them in a bare spot in my garden hoping they'd catch. Well, they grew and kept blooming a couple weeks and next spring, I had tons of them coming up. But the roots weren't necessary, I found out. They had seeded themselves from the remaining blooms - not to mention that established plants with roots very, very easily transfer to new areas during a single season. 3 years later, I have tons of them. All season long, through to the first very hard frost, cheery yellow blooms. They even escaped the spot and grew in gravel - no problem for me, but they pull out easily if unwanted in any area. Collect any spent, brown pods from faded blooms and you've got tons of seeds you can put anywhere. Birds eat them right off the flowers and ground, too, but there are so many that they birds can get a snack and you can have your flowers. I have put some in new areas of the garden and I'll do some in pots next year. Super easy, prolific, and endless blooms. From three little gas station plants, now I have hundreds!
3 years ago in late October, I saw some flowers still blooming in a divider strip between a gas station and a shopping area. It was my first introduction to calendula, but I didn't know what they were. But blooms in late October in New York got my attention, so I pulled some out with roots and planted them in a bare spot in my garden hoping they'd catch. Well, they grew and kept blooming a couple weeks and next spring, I had tons of them coming up. But the roots weren't necessary, I found out. They had seeded themselves from the remaining blooms - not to mention that established plants with roots very, very easily transfer to new areas during a single season. 3 years later, I have tons of them. All season long, through to the first very hard frost, cheery yellow blooms. They even escaped the spot and grew in gravel - no problem for me, but they pull out easily if unwanted in any area. Collect any spent, brown pods from faded blooms and you've got tons of seeds you can put anywhere. Birds eat them right off the flowers and ground, too, but there are so many that they birds can get a snack and you can have your flowers. I have put some in new areas of the garden and I'll do some in pots next year. Super easy, prolific, and endless blooms. From three little gas station plants, now I have hundreds!