Content
- Grow the marigold on the balcony
- Select location and substrate correctly
- Increase the flowering number of the calendula on the balcony
- Annually growing the marigold on the balcony
- Tips
Marigolds also thrive wonderfully in the pot on the balcony or terrace
Grow the marigold on the balcony
Not all summer bloomers have grown on a balcony due to the special climatic conditions. The undemanding marigold flowers well alongside other edible plants and herbs on the balcony as long as there is enough sunshine.
Select location and substrate correctly
The common marigold "Calendula officinalis" prefers sunny to partially shaded locations, so that south-facing balconies are particularly suitable for the culture. On average, the plants on the balcony should receive at least 4 hours daily sun exposure. Since the soil in the pots or balcony boxes is exposed to more extreme conditions than in the garden bed, a daily pouring of the calendula on the balcony may be necessary in midsummer. Choose sufficiently deep planters as the calendula forms taproots. There should be some sand or loam in the substrate. Pure potting soil from the trade simply mix with a little sand.
Increase the flowering number of the calendula on the balcony
You can help to ensure that the splendid flowering of the calendula brings even more splashes of color to your balcony. Just cut off regularly the flowers that begin to wither, so that the marigold forms new flowers and has no power in the formation of the seeds. But you can of course leave the last flowers at the end of the summer, so that they can reap well-matured seeds for sowing in the following year in the fall. Since window boxes are mostly free of pesticides and other contaminants, you can use the flowers fresh or dried as a medicinal plant and colorful food ingredient.
Annually growing the marigold on the balcony
The marigold is a relatively short-lived and in this country due to the frost sensitivity one-year-old plant. However, it can be relatively easily propagated even in the following ways:
You can remove the withered plants from the window boxes in autumn and leave them outside during the winter. With relatively high probability then even self-seeded calendula seeds will self-assemble in spring. If necessary, you can also sow the seeds collected and dried in the fall again in the planters and lightly cover with soil.
Tips
In order to prevent the marigold stalks from bending when there are strong gusts of wind, you should fix them with support poles if required or choose the lowest possible species for cultivation on the balcony.