Flowers against pests: beauty with benefits. Calendula - cultivation and care, medicinal properties and contraindications Calendula beneficial properties in the garden

Yellow and orange simple calendula flowers emit warmth and light in any weather. Calendula blooms profusely and for a long time. Flowerbeds and flower beds with calendula always look very beautiful.

Calendula is an unpretentious plant. It can be sown in the garden once, and then simply planted and thinned out every spring. Calendula requires practically no care and reproduces well by self-sowing.

Calendula easily tolerates transplantation. Transplanted flowers quickly grow stronger and new buds and flowers appear on them.

Calendula bears fruit abundantly. From one bush you can collect a large harvest of seeds.

Caring for calendula is not difficult, it is unpretentious, easily tolerates frosts down to -5 o C. The greatest beauty and decorativeness of calendula can be achieved with good lighting, moisture and fertile soils.

Calendula is not just a beautiful plant, it protects the garden from aphids, ants, and mites. Therefore, it is good to plant calendula near apple and pear trees, fruit bushes, next to cucumbers and tomatoes, and cabbage.

Infusions and decoctions of calendula are used by gardeners in the fight against fleas and bugs that infect cabbage, radishes and radishes.
Thus, calendula not only decorates, but also protects the garden.

The genus of herbaceous plants calendula has about 15 species. In nature, they grow mainly in the Mediterranean. Mostly these are annuals.

Most common in gardening Calendula officinalis, or marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)

Calendula officinalis is a highly branched plant, 20-75 cm high. The stems are ribbed, the leaves are lanceolate. Inflorescences of calendula medicinal basket, double or semi-double, simple. The diameter of the flowers is 5-12 cm, the color ranges from pale yellow to red-orange.

Blooms profusely. It blooms in July, 60-70 days after sowing.

Marigolds reproduce by sowing seeds in open ground in late April - early May or in the fall, before winter. Shoots appear 9-14 days after sowing. Calendula needs to be thinned out. so that the distance between the bushes is 20-25 cm. Calendula officinalis is unpretentious and cold-resistant, but light-loving and grows best on sufficiently moist fertile soils.

Calendula is grown in flower beds, ridges, and lawns. Calendula flowers look good in cut bouquets.

Infusions and decoctions of calendula officinalis are widely used in medicine.

If a flower is not only beautiful, but also useful, it will definitely find its place in the garden. You can grow the well-known calendula from seeds by choosing the right planting time. It is also important to create conditions for the plant in which it will bloom profusely and for a long time.

Description of the plant

Calendula officinalis (or marigold) is widespread and cultivated throughout the temperate climate zone. It is photophilous, cold-resistant and unpretentious to conditions. The plant is annual, erect, with different varieties the height varies from 20 to 70 cm. The medicinal raw materials are the inflorescences - baskets. They are yellow or orange. Along with the usual form of flowers, there is terry calendula. The plant blooms from June until autumn frosts. The fruits ripen in late summer - early autumn. Reproduces only by seeds.

Timing for planting calendula seeds

You can grow calendula from seeds by sowing in open ground or seedlings. In the second case, it will bloom earlier. Marigold seeds are sown in open ground at two times: in the spring, when the soil thaws and dries, and in the fall, before the onset of stable frosts.

In the middle zone, the optimal time for spring planting is the second and third ten days of April. The soil is considered ready if the thrown lump of earth crumbles.

Autumn planting of calendula in the ground occurs when night frosts become regular, the soil is not yet frozen, but warm days are no longer expected.

If you sow calendula before the onset of cold weather, the seeds will have time to hatch and then the seedlings will freeze. In order not to make a mistake in the timing, you can sow in the prepared furrows after the top layer has frozen, covering it with soil that was prepared in advance and kept in a warm place.

Dates for planting calendula for growing in open ground may vary in different regions. An inexperienced gardener can check them with neighbors in their summer cottage.

Marigolds are sown for seedlings from late February to early April. After planting, the containers are watered with settled water and covered so that the soil does not dry out. The shelter is removed several times a day to ventilate. After the emergence of seedlings, the shelter is removed. Seedlings require bright light and moderate watering. A few days before planting in open ground, the seedlings begin to harden - they are taken outside at a temperature of 12-16 degrees. Despite the fact that the plant is cold-resistant, hardened seedlings will begin to grow faster and will suffer less pain after transplantation.

Rules for planting calendula in the ground

If an inexperienced summer resident has questions about how to plant calendula seeds in open ground, then these rules are no different from planting other cold-resistant annuals - asters, marigolds, cornflowers, sweet peas. To design a flower bed with annuals, they can be sown at the same time.

For best flowering, marigolds should be given the most illuminated places.

Before planting calendula, it is advisable to fertilize the soil. In autumn, the following is added to the ground per square meter:

• 3-4 kg of compost;
• a tablespoon of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers;
• coarse sand for heavy clay soils.

Potassium fertilizers can be replaced with ash.

Seeds are sown in furrows to create ridges and in spots for flower beds. In flower beds, the distance between seeds should be 8-10 cm; for single plantings in flower beds, one plant requires an area of ​​20-30 cm2. Seeds are sown to a depth of 2-3 cm. At a greater depth, it will be more difficult for seeds to germinate. Spring plantings are watered with warm water; in autumn the seeds are left in dry soil. The first shoots appear in 5-7 days, and after a month the seedlings can be thinned out if necessary. The rooted seedlings are transplanted to a new location. Calendula easily tolerates transplantation even during flowering.

In any photo with calendula flowers you can see that healthy plants grow freely, uncrowded, each one is illuminated by the sun's rays. You also need to pull out weeds on time.

Dense plantings, excessive fertilizing and long-term cultivation in one place increase the risk of blackleg, blight and powdery mildew.

Plant care

Since the plant is unpretentious, after planting calendula, care in the open ground consists only of periodic watering, weeding and fertilizing. If fertilizers were applied to the soil in advance, then you need to feed with caution, without exceeding the amount. At the beginning of the season, you can fertilize the marigolds with nitrogen to increase green mass. It is applied in the form of a liquid urea solution for spraying or watered at the root. You can use a solution of mullein, bird droppings or nettle infusion diluted 1 to 10.

At the beginning of flowering, plants can be sprayed with complex fertilizer containing boron. This microelement promotes longer and more luxuriant flowering.

Collection of medicinal raw materials and seeds

Marigolds will bloom longer if fading inflorescences are removed in a timely manner. But, if calendula is planted as a medicinal plant, then the flowers should be picked off in the phase of full flower opening. It is better to do this in dry weather.

Calendula seeds ripen in late summer. They are large, gray-brown in color, and resemble the letter “C” in appearance. Peduncles with seeds are torn off and laid out to dry in a dark place with good ventilation. After drying, they are winnowed and kept in cloth or paper bags in a dry room.

What benefits does calendula bring in the garden?

The entire plant secretes phytoncides, which, if they do not kill the pest, then repel it. Thus, planting marigolds can clear strawberry beds of nematodes. Calendula in the garden also helps against pests such as:

• mole cricket,
• asparagus rattle fly,
• hawk moth caterpillars.

The green mass of the plant can be plowed into the soil, using it as green manure. This operation heals the soil from late blight of nightshades and nematodes. When growing calendula from seeds to green manure the soil, the best planting dates are early spring and August.

In the spring, calendula is sown on green mass before winter plantings of garlic, onions, carrots, and at the end of summer - to prepare the soil for the next season.

Planting calendula seedlings in the ground - video

Calendula is one of the ancient garden annual plants. Translated from Latin, “calendae” means the first day of the month. Popularly, this flower is called “Marigold” due to the great resemblance of the seeds to a nail or claw.

Gardeners value Calendula not only for its unpretentiousness, ease of cultivation, abundant flowering, but also for its medicinal properties. They were discovered many centuries ago beneficial features this plant. It was used not only in folk medicine, but also in cooking as spices.

Appearance of Calendula

Calendula belongs to the Asteraceae family. The height of the plant is 40-60 cm. Although the stems of Calendula are thick, they are very brittle. Large leaves have a lanceolate shape. Depending on the type of inflorescence, they can be simple, semi-double or double. The diameter of each flower ranges from 5 cm to 12 cm. As a rule, Calendula inflorescences are orange in color, but you can also find yellow, cream or lemon flowers with a dark brown center.

The smell of Calendula is unusual and specific, but it cannot be said that it is unpleasant.

Decorative value of Calendula

Calendula can decorate any garden plot or flower bed. It can be planted in a group, for example, against the background of green grass, lawns or multi-colored flower beds, or in rows in ridges. Orange Calendula flowers go well with plants whose inflorescences are blue-blue in color (Ageratum, Lobelia, Forget-me-nots, etc.)

Low-growing Calendula can decorate balconies; it is good in ridges and rockeries. Its bright flowers are like the sun - they send us their warm rays every day.

Calendula can be used for cutting. The flowers remain in the vase without fading for 10 days.

How to grow Calendula from seeds in open ground?

Growing Calendula from seeds is not at all difficult. Once you sow it once, the plant begins to reproduce by self-seeding. After several years of growing Calendula, some gardeners even begin to fight it as a weed, as its seeds begin to grow in different places in the garden.

Seeds are sown in open ground in April or before winter - in mid-October. Before sowing, the area is dug up and fertilizers are added if necessary. Although Calendula grows in different soils, in order to achieve bright inflorescences and abundant flowering, it is better that the soil is loose and nutritious. To do this, before you start digging, humus should be added to the soil (3-4 kg per 1 sq.m), as well as 1 tablespoon each of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate. After this, the soil is dug up, leveled, moistened, and only after that the seeds are sown.

The seeds are sown to a depth of 2 cm, the interval between them should be 20 cm, and the distance between the rows should be approximately 30 cm. Within a week, the first shoots appear. When they grow a little, they will need to be thinned out. Calendula will begin to bloom in 2-2.5 months from the date of sowing the seeds.

Growing Calendula seedlings

In order for Calendula to bloom as early as possible, it can be grown through seedlings. This method is most effective for low-growing Calendula.
Growing calendula seedlings from seeds

The seeds are sown at the end of March. Seeds can be sown in seedling boxes, but it is better to take small containers, for example, cups - it is easier to remove seedlings from them without damaging the roots.

The optimal air temperature for growing seedlings is 18-20ºC. The main care for Calendula seedlings is timely watering. It is advisable to feed them with a weak solution of complex mineral fertilizers during this period. Fertilize once every 15 days.

Despite the fact that Calendula is a frost-resistant plant, several weeks before transplanting the seedlings into open ground, they will need to be hardened off by taking them daily to a cool room, or better yet, to fresh air. First, the seedlings are removed for a short period of time, gradually increasing their residence time.

As soon as the seedlings reach the stage of 5-6 true leaves, they must be planted in a permanent place with a distance of 30x30 between seedlings.

How to care for Calendula?

Calendula is a moisture-loving plant. In dry weather, it is recommended to water it 2-3 times a week. In order for flowering to be abundant, it is necessary to constantly tear off faded inflorescences - this will contribute to the formation of new flowers, and, consequently, preserving the decorative appearance of the plant. We should also not forget about weeding and loosening the soil.

Attention! Calendula should not be planted next to basil and radishes, since the substances secreted by the root system of the flower have a bad effect on these crops.

Sometimes Calendula is affected by fungal diseases such as black spot and powdery mildew. At the first signs of disease, the plant must be urgently treated with a fungicide designed to combat these diseases.

Calendula is an undemanding and fairly easy-to-care plant that can not only decorate any garden plot, but also become a folk healer. Calendula is used for medicinal and decorative purposes. The colossal variety of varieties makes it possible to choose calendula flowers that will improve the appearance of the flowerbed and add new colors. You just need to devote a little time to the plant, and then it will delight you for many years.

Types and varieties of calendula

Calendula or marigold is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. There are twenty species of plants. The most popular of them:

• medicinal - the only species that can be grown at home as an ornamental and medicinal plant;
• two-color;
• field

Calendula varieties are extremely diverse and include short-growing plants - up to 45 cm, medium-growing plants - up to 60 cm, and tall plants - up to 85 cm. What does calendula look like in varieties popular with gardeners?

• Pygmy is a plant up to 15 cm in height. Small double flowers are apricot, golden, cream or orange.
• Calypso is a low-growing variety up to 30 cm in height. The flowers are large and can be bright orange or golden orange.
• Green heart is a plant up to 60 cm in height. The small flowers are yellow, pale orange or bright orange.
• Radio is a plant up to 55 cm in height. The flowers are small in diameter and hemispherical in shape. They can be bright orange or golden yellow.
• Pacific Beauty is a tall plant up to 80 cm in height. The flowers are hemispherical in shape with a huge variety of shades.
• Orange Flamingo - variety up to 60 cm in height. The flowers are small with an orange tint.

Where do you buy seeds?

You can buy seed material in almost every flower shop. In addition, you can order the variety you like in an online store or collect the seeds yourself. This is not a rare plant, so there will be no problems purchasing seeds. The price of seeds depends on the distinctive features of the variety.

Choosing a landing site

Calendula loves light, but does not tolerate dry and hot weather. With a lack of light, the flowers will grow small and the flowering period will be short. The most suitable place for planting calendula in open ground and caring for it in the future is considered to be an area in partial shade.
The soil used for planting the plant must be fertile, nutritious, light and loose. Calendula loves moisture and grows well under optimal conditions. The area in which it will grow should be protected from strong winds, as they can harm and damage the flowers.

When to plant calendula in the ground?

It is best to plant seeds at the very beginning of spring or at the end of autumn - before winter. The main thing is that the soil meets the conditions described above. Sowing in late autumn will reward you with early flowering. Calendula is planted for seedlings in April, and a month later the seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place. Calendula is a cold-resistant plant that can withstand temperatures down to -5 degrees. It is best that the soil is loose and crumbly. To check the condition of the soil, you should throw a lump of earth up; if it disintegrates easily, this means that the seeds can be sown. Before planting the seed, the soil is dug up and humus is added at the rate of 4 kg per 1 m² of land. The seeds are deepened into the ground by about one to two centimeters, the distance between the rows is at least 30 cm. If all conditions are met, shoots will appear in ten days.

Growing calendula from seedlings

This method is considered more troublesome, but makes it possible to get the first flowers much faster. For seedlings, it is possible to use pots, wooden boxes, and containers, but small containers are best. At a flower shop you can buy universal soil, which will be saturated with useful substances. The prepared soil is poured into a container, small depressions are made and the seeds are sown. Next, cover it with plastic wrap and place it in a room with an air temperature of 14–15 degrees. Shoots will appear in seven days. As soon as the seedlings get stronger and five leaves appear, you can plant calendula in open ground, and caring for it in this case will not take much time. Before planting, seedlings are hardened by placing the container outside for several hours. When growing low-growing varieties, it is best to use the seedling method for faster ripening.

Features of plant care

Calendula, planting and caring for it in open ground does not require much effort, still requires compliance with certain rules. For long-term flowering, you need to give the plant a little time:

• remove weeds regularly;
• to give the bushes fullness, the main stem of the plant should be pinched;
• when growing calendula for bouquets and cuttings, this manipulation should not be carried out; the flowers will be large if there are few inflorescences.

Calendula, as a rule, rarely gets sick. In damp and cool weather, the plant is affected by powdery mildew, mucus and rot. To combat diseases and pests, the following measures are used:

• remove the diseased plant;
• the soil is treated with a disinfectant; you can use a solution of soda ash (50 g/10 l of water), copper sulfate (300 g/10 l of water).

For prevention, the plant must be sprayed with a fungicidal agent, remove weeds in a timely manner, do not overfeed with nitrogen, and replant to a new location every three years.

Feeding and watering

Calendula, which is quite simple to plant and care for in open ground, requires frequent watering. During the dry season, it needs to be watered three to four times, and in normal times once or twice a week. As a top dressing, you can use any complex fertilizer, which is applied once every fourteen days. Excess nitrogen fertilizer causes small inflorescences.

Combination with other plants

The size of calendula makes it possible to plant it in a living border or small fence framing low plants. It looks great up close with evergreen shrubs. The variety of colors will decorate the alpine hill and the Moorish lawn. Calendula can add a pop of color when planted next to darker colored plants. Low-growing calendula looks impressive in hanging baskets or plant pots.

Calendula seeds are best collected in the last month of summer. By this time, the flowering of calendula is coming to an end.
To obtain seeds for subsequent planting, brown boxes that are in a horizontal position are picked. They are collected in warm, sunny weather. Next, the seeds are dried and ventilated for a week in a dry room. They can then be placed in a paper bag and stored until planting.

Rules for collecting, drying and storing calendula

The entire above-ground part of the plant is used for medicinal purposes, and therefore many gardeners are wondering when to harvest calendula. Grass and flowers are collected during the flowering period, i.e., from June until the first frost in October. Harvesting is carried out in warm, dry and clear weather, preferably at noon.
Inflorescences are selected with fully blossomed baskets and carefully cut with scissors or torn off by hand. Throughout the daylight hours, leaves and stems are collected and cut with a sharp knife or pruning shears. The collected raw materials are placed in pallets. Dry calendula in the open air, protecting it from moisture and sun, in the attic or closed balcony. The plant material is laid out in a thin layer on the material and periodically turned so that it dries well. Store finished raw materials in cool and dry rooms.

Medicinal properties

Calendula is a plant that is widely used in folk medicine due to its significant number of medicinal properties. Quite often, calendula is used to treat diseases of the digestive tract, heart pathologies and diseases of the biliary tract. Calendula tincture is used to rinse the mouth and treat sore throat. Calendula-based ointment and infusion are used to heal wounds. The tincture can also be used as a sedative. Calendula ointment is excellent as a remedy for treating damage to the skin and adjacent tissues (for example, bruises, cuts, burns).

In folk cosmetology, the plant is used as a healing, soothing, tonic, and anti-inflammatory agent. In addition, calendula is used to make masks and compresses; they have a beneficial effect on the skin, improving its condition and color.

It is necessary to remember about contraindications. Pregnant women should not use calendula. Hypertensive patients should also not use medications from this plant, as blood pressure can significantly drop to dangerous levels. Calendula should not be used together with other sedative medications.

• Queen of France Margaret of Valois really liked calendula, so her chambers were decorated with bouquets of these beautiful flowers.
• The Queen of Navarre described calendula in her writings, admiring its splendor.
• The Luxembourg Gardens, which is located in Paris, is decorated with a statue of Marguerite holding a bouquet of calendula in her hands.
• The Welsh used calendula to determine the weather: if the flowers did not open in the morning, it meant it would be cloudy or rainy, and there would be a storm at sea.
• In China, this plant represents longevity.
• In India, calendula is a sacred plant.
• In the ancient Roman calendar, calendula marked the first day of the month.
• Used in Ancient Greece medicinal properties plants.
• In the Middle Ages, calendula was used as food. It was used as a filling for pies, added to porridges and salads, and also made into puddings.
• Calendula is considered a substitute for saffron.

Bright calendula flowers of multi-colored shades on a bright green background look very impressive. The flowering plant will look great when planted alone, as well as in the center of the composition.

In many gardens in Russia you can find such a plant as calendula. Planting and care in open ground usually does not cause difficulties. It is also grown in other countries of the northern region. Caring for this plant is not difficult. This flower is popularly called “marigold”. It belongs to the aster family. Representatives of this family are widespread in the Mediterranean, Western Europe and Asia. In total, there are about 20 types of different flowers related to calendula. Among them there are both annual and perennial plants.

In addition to beauty, marigolds can also be planted for other purposes. So, these flowers have medicinal properties. The ancient Greeks knew about them. In addition, the grass was used as a spice and added to various dishes.

Description of the flower

Calendula is a herbaceous plant whose stems are covered with hard down. The flowers growing on it are collected in apical baskets. Their color usually ranges from yellow to orange. The leaves of a plant can have absolutely different shapes, but most often - elongated, located in 2-3 rows on the stem. The flowering period is up to 3 months and can last from June to September. At the same time, the flower bears fruit abundantly.

Seeds can germinate in the ground even after 5 years from the date of their collection, and do not even require special care. The flower got its name precisely due to the shape of its seeds, which in their own way appearance resemble the claws of a predatory beast.

Medicinal properties of the flower

Calendula is used to treat and prevent many diseases, which is why it is included in the top ten most cultivated medicinal crops that do not require special care. You can find this type of herbs in any pharmacy in different countries peace.

It is interesting that the planting of calendula as a medicine began much earlier than as an ornamental plant. From ancient times to this day, this flower is widely used in folk and traditional medicine.

Dried baskets of “marigolds” have the most beneficial properties; they contain the following substances:

• carotenoids;
• bitter substances;
• organic acids;
• vitamin C;
• provitamin A;
• proteins and many other useful substances that help not only treat and care for the patient, but also maintain the body in a healthy state.

Thanks to this composition, flowers have bactericidal, wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties. They are prescribed for diseases of the liver, intestines, stomach and other organs of the digestive system. They are also prescribed as an additional substance for heart disease and cancer.

Seed collection

Calendula seeds can be purchased at any store that sells various gardening supplies. But if there are already these flowers on the site, then it is not necessary to buy them. It is enough to walk around the site. When? In the period from late August to early September, it is worth enriching yourself with seeds, which can later be planted. By this time, all the petals have fallen and only the core remains, full of small “marigolds.” One flower can have up to 15 seeds, with the help of which planting is carried out in the ground.

Calendula seeds on the stem remain wet, so they must be thoroughly dried. They will last longer once they get rid of excess moisture. To do this, it is enough to place them in a cardboard box or on dry newspaper. Seedlings should be stored in a paper bag in a dry and ventilated place.

From some of the seeds obtained, you can prepare a healing decoction to care for a sick person, and some can be planted in order to collect a “harvest” for the next year.

There are two ways to plant seeds:

1. for seedlings;
2. planting calendula in open ground.

Some, before planting flowers in the garden or flower bed, allow them to germinate at home. The rest, and these are the majority, sow seeds directly into open ground, skipping the stage with seedlings.

Each of these methods has its own characteristics, so you should take a closer look at both options.

Growing seedlings

This type of landing is a little more complicated than the one described below. But if you decide to plant this way, the flowering will be more even, and you won’t even need additional care. Therefore, this method is suitable for those who want to grow marigolds specifically as an ornamental plant. In addition, it will allow you to most effectively grow low-growing varieties of calendula.

When are flowers sown? Towards the end of March, some of the varieties can be sown in early April. Small wooden containers or special plastic pots for seedlings are suitable for planting. What care is needed and when should you water the seeds? This should be done as needed. Already 6-7 days after planting, sprouts should emerge.

For faster growth, it is worth maintaining the optimal temperature. Marigolds love it when the air around them does not exceed +14 - +15° in temperature.

Calendula can be planted in open ground when the flower grows and becomes stronger. To determine this, it is enough to count the number of large leaves on the plant. If their number exceeds 5, then it’s time to replant.

Planting calendula seeds in open ground

As a rule, marigolds begin to sow closer to the beginning of autumn. It is best when this is done in early September or late August. If you decide to plant in the spring, then this can be done as soon as the soil is ready for planting. To check this, you need to take it into your fist and squeeze it, after which the resulting lump must be thrown from a height of a meter. If the soil crumbles easily, then sowing can begin.

Before planting a flower, the open soil must be dug up and fertilized. Humus is suitable for this, which must be applied in a proportion of 3 kg per 1 m2 of soil.

In addition to humus, you can also use some types of fertilizers. So, you can pour a solution with potassium sulfate, superphosphate and urea into the ground. Each substance needs 1 spoon per 1.5 liters of water. This solution is enough for 1 m2 of soil.

The fertilized soil is thoroughly dug up and leveled. After all procedures, you can start sowing. Experts advise planting marigolds in rows. To do this, it is enough to draw shallow grooves in the area where sowing will be done. Their depth should not exceed 2 cm. This is necessary to make it easier for the seedlings to overcome the soil layer. The distance between the grooves should not be less than 30 cm, since after the flowers grow, they may become crowded.

So, caring for calendula in open ground is not difficult: for optimal development of the plant, only timely watering is necessary. Planting this flower is also easy; it takes root well in a suitable soil mixture.

“Marigolds” will decorate any summer cottage. And thanks to their medicinal properties, they can also be used as a folk remedy.

Who is not familiar with this bright, elegant and unpretentious flower - calendula?! It is difficult to imagine a garden without bright orange splashes of the ubiquitous marigolds, as they are also popularly called because of their unusual shape seeds

Description of calendula

Calendula is an annual plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family, which means it is a close relative of asters, dahlias and many other known species. Therefore, it would be strange if breeders did not create many beautiful varieties of calendula, including double and two-colored ones, following the example of its more famous “relatives”. The new varieties bear little resemblance to the rather modest calendula flower, familiar to everyone from childhood, but in terms of requirements for growing conditions they are very similar.

Calendula care

This plant comes from the Mediterranean, which is why it loves the sun and warmth so much; it grows in the shade, but looks rather dull and unattractive, and easily tolerates replanting throughout the season. Calendula prefers fertile, loose soil and is responsive to the application of complex fertilizers - 3 times per season is enough for it to please the eye for a long time with flowering, which continues all summer. You can prolong and increase flowering using a simple technique:
Regularly remove the marginal flowers, then the calendula will bloom until autumn.

Calendula propagation

Plant marigolds with seeds directly into the ground in mid-April or before winter. They also easily propagate by self-sowing, although to grow double forms, you will have to buy seeds annually.

Calendula in garden design

In landscape design, marigolds can be used in a wide variety of combinations - in flower beds, in rock gardens, on Moorish lawns, but it seems to me that their more rational use is in, since calendula is a sought-after medicinal plant. These can be monochrome plantings with other useful plants (elecampane, immortelle, tansy, yarrow, rue) or annual flowers of blue-blue shades can be used as companions.

The spicy aroma emanating from flowers and leaves is due to the essential oils and resins contained in them. It is precisely thanks to this specific smell that calendula protects garden crops from ticks, aphids and ants. And concentrated decoctions and infusions (400 g of inflorescences per 4 liters of water, leave for 5 days in a dark place) help fight fleas and bedbugs. Plant calendula throughout the garden -

Flowers for pests, repellent flowers, scarer flowers... First of all, we, of course, plant flowers for the soul, so that all summer long we can enjoy the colors, inhale pleasant aromas and enjoy the beauty and harmony that is in every petal.

But a summer resident is a practical person; he wants to get the maximum benefit from every plant in the garden. What can “gentle creatures” give, besides aesthetic pleasure? Is there a practical need for them?

As you know, the most significant function of flowers is to attract pollinating insects to the site, but some of them can also scare away unwanted guests - pests and pathogens.

The number of helper plants in our daily pest control is truly enormous. Among them there are many truly beautiful flowers that are not embarrassing to plant in a flowerbed. Here is the list:

• Marigolds (tagetes);
• Decorative tansy;
• Geranium;
• Delphinium;
• Petunia;
• Dalmatian chamomile, pyrethrum;
• Nasturtium;
• Calendula;
• Lavender.

Adorable and nice list, Truth? Let's see which garden pests are not happy with these bright flowers.

Marigolds (tagetes) against pests

The plant is very popular among gardeners - it blooms for a long time and does not require special care.

Meanwhile, marigold flowers secrete phytoncides that repel nematodes and other small soil worms from potatoes and tomatoes.

Marigolds planted around the perimeter of strawberry beds will reliably protect the berries from weevils.

Place a flower bed with marigolds next to the plantings of onions and cabbage - your vegetables will no longer suffer from invasions of onion flies, cutworms and cabbage whites.

An infusion of marigolds is used against aphids on leguminous plants and fruit trees and shrubs. To prepare the infusion, the stems and flowers are crushed and filled with half a bucket. Then fill the bucket to the top with warm water (40-60°C) and leave for two days. After that, 40 grams of liquid soap are added to the strained infusion and the affected plants are sprayed. In addition, marigold infusion can be used to disinfect gladioli bulbs.

In the fall, cut off the stems and faded flowers of marigolds and bury them in the beds for the winter. This way you will improve the soil in your area and prevent the development of pathogenic fungi, for example, those that cause fusarium.

Tansy against pests

This perennial plant is considered a weed and is usually removed from gardens. But there are also decorative varieties of tansy that can become not only a flowerbed decoration, but also protectors from harmful insects. Because the essential oils of this plant contain thujone, camphor and alkoids - toxic to some types of pests.

The pungent smell of tansy is not to the liking of the Colorado potato beetle, copperhead, cabbage white, onion fly, weevil and mites.

You can use powder from dry tansy inflorescences to combat the moth on gooseberries and currants.

To protect apple trees from the codling moth, tansy is planted in tree trunks.

Calendula (marigold) against pests

The marigold flower with yellow or orange petals, known to everyone since childhood, has been helping gardeners in the difficult fight against pests for centuries.

Calendula is often planted interspersed with potatoes to protect crops from the Colorado potato beetle.

If calendula is sown between beds with cabbage, peppers, and tomatoes, it will protect the crop from mites and nematodes.

Calendula growing next to strawberries will save the latter from aphids, taking the “fire upon itself.” If you see that the calendula stems are literally covered with aphids, do not panic - the aphids will remain on the marigolds, and the strawberry bushes will not be harmed.

Calendula phytoncides suppress asparagus rattle, hawkmoth caterpillars and many types of aphids.

The proximity of calendula to asters prevents the development of blacklegs in the latter.

This plant, like marigolds, prevents the spread of fungal diseases, heals the soil and is an excellent green manure. Embed the stems and leaves of calendula into the soil, place it in compost, and use it in furrows for planting potatoes.

Pyrethrum (Dalmatian, Caucasian, Persian chamomile) against pests

This plant is a true gift from nature to the gardener, as it is a natural insecticide. The pyrethrins and cinerins contained in pyrethrum flowers penetrate the skin of insects and paralyze them. Moreover, these substances are absolutely harmless for pets and humans.

Caucasian chamomile kills ants, flies, cockroaches, fleas, lice, aphids, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, spiders and ixodid ticks. It can be used as a repellent, “smoking” the premises.

Plant pyrethrum next to cabbage and you will forget about caterpillars and aphids.

Pyrethrum growing next to apple trees and other fruit trees will reliably protect your garden from codling moths, aphids and other pests.

If you plant pyrethrum chamomile next to phlox, the latter will not be affected by the nematode.

Another good news is that mice and rats are not happy with this amazing chamomile. You can breed it in the favorite habitats of rodents, thereby scaring them away.

An effective powder is made from dried pyrethrum flowers against flea beetles, larvae, copperheads and caterpillars, which are used to pollinate young plants in the spring.

Pyrethrum infusion can be sprayed on pets to prevent fleas and ticks.

Nasturtium against pests

Bright, lovely nasturtium is also ready to help the pest fighter.

A few nasturtiums in a cabbage bed will repel whiteweed. A flowerbed with nasturtiums placed near the entrance to the greenhouse will not give whiteflies a chance to damage your tomatoes.

Nasturtium is a desirable neighbor for peonies, as it prevents the development of fungal diseases of these flowers.

Plant nasturtiums under cherries and apricots. It will not only serve as a protector against pests, but will also become an excellent green fertilizer if you dig it in the fall right in the tree trunks.

Nasturtium stems and leaves are an ideal filler because it rids the soil of the fungus that causes potato late blight.

Geranium against pests

Geranium - a regular on our window sills and balconies - as it turns out, is quite capable of protecting our home and garden from unnecessary insects.

This flower disinfects the room, so as a houseplant it is simply irreplaceable.

Many pests of fruit and berry crops cannot tolerate the pungent smell of geranium, so it is worth planting geranium (or placing pots with it) between the bushes in berry gardens. This way you can protect your berry bushes from aphids.

Geranium repels flies well, so several pots of this wonderful flower will not be superfluous on the terrace in front of the house.

Petunia against pests

Flower growers love multi-colored petunia, but some insects prefer to stay away from it

Petunias resist almost all pests and diseases of legumes.

Plus, this gorgeous flower will help save your radishes, turnips, daikon and Chinese cabbage from the hordes of cruciferous flea beetle.

And the proximity to petunia protects asters from fusarium.

Lavender against pests

The aroma of lavender is gentle and pleasant, but not everyone is able to enjoy it.

My grandmother always had calendula growing. She planted it not only in flower beds, but even among potato beds, saying that the yellow flowers drove the Colorado potato beetle away from them. Tell us how else you can use calendula against pests in the garden?

Beautiful ornamental plants have long been used by gardeners not only for aesthetic pleasure, but also to protect their work from any unwanted guests who significantly spoil the future harvest. One of these plants includes calendula - low bushes with bright yellow or orange daisy flowers and light green leaves.

Useful properties of calendula for the garden

Its use in the garden for protection against pests is completely justified, and the effectiveness of its use has long been proven by many years of experience. Small, compact and fragrant bushes can provide gardeners with great benefits due to their beneficial properties, because they:

• repels caterpillars, wireworms, ticks, Colorado potato beetles, and nematodes from beds;
• do not give a chance for the development of fungi and bacteria in the soil that cause late blight, mosaic, and withering of crops.

During the period of growth and flowering, the root system of flowers actively supplies the soil with phytoncides and other useful substances, and plant residues embedded in the ground improve its structure.

Mixed flower and garden plantings with calendula

Compact bushes not only look beautiful among the beds, but also protect them from harmful insects that can destroy the crop. Thus, the beneficial proximity of calendula to the following crops has been proven:

1. Tomatoes, cabbage, peppers. Protects against nematodes and ticks.
2. Potato. He also chases away the bear.
3. Beans. Suppresses different types caterpillars, aphids and rattles.
4. Strawberry. Attracts aphids to itself, saving the berries from their attack, and also ladybugs that destroy pests.

Using calendula as green manure

Unlike mustard, lupine and other green manures, which quickly grow a large mass of foliage, calendula has a more modest size, but it is quite enough to improve the health of the garden. And such a volume decomposes much faster.

After the main (summer) harvest, calendula can be densely sown in the vacated area at the end of August. After 1.5-2 months, the bushes that are ready to bloom must be cut off, and the remaining roots will rot over the winter. Greens are good for use in compost and mulch, and can also be worked into the ground, spread loosely around the area.

Using calendula for pest control - video