CALENDULAS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 654, 4 May 1929, Page 28

CALENDULAS

YE OLD ENGLISH MARIGOLDS The Calendula is an old-fashioned annual which has come into favour very much of late, particularly since the new double varieties came on to *he market. If sown in February or March the plants will come into flower some time in May, and will remain in flower till September or October at least. provided the faded flowers are regularly removed. Soil The plants thrive best in a rich, sandy loam; in fact, the soil cannot he too rich. They are equally fine in clumps in the garden or for bordering. We do not recommend planting a bed of flowers with one variety of flower, as was the fashion some twenty.five years ago, and which only made the garden look stiff, formal and artificial, three things we must always try and avoid in planting and laying out our gardens. Time to Sow Seed Seed can be sown at any time during the year, and the seedlings will come quickly into flower, but as the calendula is at its best as a winter flowering annual we recommend sowing during February and March, with a few smaller sowings throughout the year to fill up odd spots in the garden beds.

How to Sow Sow the seeds thinly in seed beds or boxes, and transplant to their per-

manent quarters when large enough to handle. When transplanting set the plants out about 12 inches apart; if in rows round the border, a little closer will be found advisable, say, about above all, if a prolonged flowering season is ddsired, in keeping the faded flowers regularly picked. Don’t buy the cheap seeds often, or,

should we say, almost invariably offered, but insist on having the new varieties, which are wonderful in colour and size, and all of which make good, deep double flowers.

First of the lot stands out Orange Ball, a wonderful large double flower in a glowing orange colour. It is a strong grower and needs a little more room than most of the other varieties. I Then there is another excellent orange variety somewhat similar to the above, Prince of Orange. This is also worth growing. Then in the yellow, | the best we have yet seen is Sulphur Queen, a good sister plant to Orange Prince. There are also other shades which are not yet available here, but no doubt will soon be, as their worth i is now so keenly appreciated. And, by the way, before closing, these plants are often called English marigolds, though why they are so called is somewhat of a mystery, for their native place is the Cape of Good Hope. I nine inches. If the weather is at all ; warm when transplanting, cover the seedlings for a day or so with an in--1 verted flower pot so as to give them a chance of picking up. Don’t forget to water them after transplanting. Grow in Pots and Window Boxes, too Calendulas make excellent pot and window* box plants, and it is found that they arc very little trouble grow T n in this way, provided they are given plenty of rich soil in which to spread their roots and are regularly watered. We consider that the Calendula is one

of the very best plants for window boxes in the winter. After Treatment Is extremely simple. An occasional watering with liquid manure, applied only after a good watering so as not to burn the roots, keeping the weeds away from the growing plants, and,