Not all summer bloomers can cope with the special climatic conditions on a balcony. The fairly undemanding marigold can be planted alongside other edible plants and herbs on the balcony as long as there is enough sunlight.

Marigolds also thrive in pots on the balcony or patio

Choose the right location and substrate

The common marigold "Calendula officinalis" loves sunny to partially shaded locations, so south-facing balconies are particularly suitable for cultivation. On average, the plants on the balcony should be exposed to the sun for at least 4 hours a day. Since the soil in the pots or window boxes (€109.00) is exposed to more extreme conditions than in the garden bed, daily watering of the calendula on the balcony may be necessary in midsummer. Choose sufficiently deep planters, as the calendula develops taproots. The substrate should have a certain amount of sand or clay. Simply mix pure potting soil from the trade with some sand.

Increase the number of calendula flowers on the balcony

You can do your part to ensure that the magnificent flowering period of the calendula gives your balcony even more splashes of colour. Simply cut off the flowers that are beginning to wither regularly so that the marigold produces new flowers and does not put any effort into forming the seeds. Of course, you can leave the last blossoms at the end of summer so that you can still harvest well-ripened seeds in autumn for sowing the following year. Since balcony boxes are usually free of pesticides and other dirt, you can use the flowers fresh or dried as a medicinal plant and colorful food component.

Grow the marigold on the balcony every year

The marigold is a relatively short-lived and annual plant in this country due to its sensitivity to frost. However, it is relatively easy to propagate yourself in the following ways:

  • by self-seeding
  • by direct sowing in the garden after the last frost
  • by preferring under glass or on the windowsill

You can remove the wilted plants from the balcony boxes in autumn and leave them outside over the winter. There is a relatively high probability that calendula seeds that you have sown yourself will sprout by themselves in the spring. If necessary, you can also sow the seeds collected and dried in the autumn again in the planters and cover them lightly with soil.

tips

So that the stems of the marigold do not snap off in strong gusts of wind, you should fix them with support rods if necessary or choose the lowest possible species for cultivation on the balcony.

Category:

Vegetable garden