Balls Orange, Calendula Seeds

Balls Orange Calendula Seed

Large fully double orange blooms glow in cutting gardens
Two-foot stems provide generous material for bouquets
Edible petals add golden color to seasonal dishes
Suitable for borders, pollinator beds, and cottage plantings

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Calendula officinalis

Days to maturity

50 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

250 Seeds

About Balls Orange, Calendula Seed, Calendula Seed

The Balls Orange Calendula is an old-fashioned variety that has a large, fully double, orange blossoms that are perfect for cutting. This variety grows to be 24 inches tall and produces beautiful edible flower petals. The Balls Orange is suitable for cutting, beds and borders, and the pollinator garden.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/4"

Days to Germination

5–14 days

Germination Type

A - No Pretreatment

In-row plant spacing

12-18"

Plant profile

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

24 inches

Growth Habits

Mounding

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

3,688

Color

Orange

Seed Type

Open Pollinated

Before Planting

For Calendula, select a full-sun site with well-drained soil and good air circulation. Remove perennial weeds, loosen compacted ground, and incorporate modest compost without making the bed overly rich. Prepare a fine, firm seedbed. No seed pretreatment is normally required; use fresh seed and follow the sowing conditions in the Planting guidance.

Planting

Direct sow calendula in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or sow in fall where winters are mild. Keep the seedbed evenly moist through emergence. Indoor starts may be sown 4–6 weeks before transplanting, but avoid letting roots become crowded. Thin direct-sown seedlings after true leaves form and repeat sowings during cool weather.

Watering

Calendula needs consistent moisture during establishment but tolerates moderate dryness afterward. Water deeply during prolonged drought, allowing the upper soil to dry between applications.

Fertilizer

Calendula needs only moderate feeding. Use diluted balanced fertilizer during active growth, following label rates and limiting nitrogen so plants remain compact and flower freely.

Harvesting

Harvest calendula as buds begin opening or when blooms reach full color, depending on intended use. Cut above a branching point, place stems in water promptly, and remove spent flowers regularly.

Tips

Remove faded calendula blooms before seed forms to encourage continued flowering. Shear lightly if plants become leggy, and protect containers from drying faster than garden beds.

Pests & Diseases

Calendula may show powdery mildew, leaf spots, smut, or Botrytis during damp weather. Smut produces dark swollen areas rather than a surface coating. Deadhead and thin plants to keep new flowers dry, remove infected debris, and shift repeat plantings to another bed when leaf spotting returns each season.

Monitor calendula for aphids, thrips, mites, beetles, slugs, and chewing caterpillars. Remove badly infested growth, use physical controls first, and apply labeled treatments outside pollinator-active hours.