The marigold (Calendula officinalis), which is native to many gardens due to its relative undemanding nature, is not only used fresh as an edible but also decorative food component. Drying the flowers and seeds of this prized medicinal plant can be worthwhile.

Marigold flowers are best dried upside down

Harvest the flowers at the right time

In order to be able to dry the yellow or orange petals of your marigolds easily, you should harvest them at the right time. Ideally, choose a harvest time when it was relatively dry 2 to 3 days before. Then cut off the flower heads that have blossomed as freshly as possible at midday and lay them out on cotton cloths in a well-ventilated, but not too sunny place for 1 or 2 days. After this "pre-drying" you can simply pluck the small, tongue-shaped petals from the flower heads by hand. Then dry the petals for a few more days with good ventilation and mix them regularly to prevent mold growth from residual moisture. Drying is possible either naturally at room temperature or in a dehydrator with a maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius.

The use of dried marigold flowers

If you want to use dried calendula petals as a decorative drug in tea mixtures, you should choose a temperature of around 85 degrees Celsius for drying because of the better color retention. The dried petals of the marigold are said to have positive effects on a whole range of ailments:

  • in liver disease
  • for better healing of inflamed wounds and skin areas
  • against gastrointestinal diseases

Tea extracts and ointments are made from the flowers of the plant. You can also make marigold oil for external use by soaking the flowers in oil in a bright place for at least two weeks. The flowers, along with other herbs and butter, also make a decorative and tasty butter mix.

Harvest and use the seeds properly

Due to self-seeding, the calendula often grows anew every year without the gardener having to do anything once they have been settled in a suitable location in the garden. For controlled sowing in the garden or on the balcony, the fully mature seeds are collected as soon as they easily detach from the flower stalks. Then they are gently dried in a single layer at room temperature and stored in airtight screw-top jars to prevent mold before sowing in spring.

tips

People with extreme allergies to daisy plants should not eat fresh or dried marigolds, and pregnant women should also avoid internal marigold products.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Vegetable garden