Worth knowing:
The Pot Marygold belongs to the aster family and grows usually annual, 30 to 50 cm tall with ramified and haired, light green coloured stalks and haired, elongated leaves. From June until the first frosts, it shows its yellow-orange coloured blossoms through the whole summer. The Pot Marygold was the symbol of the Aztec love goddess Xochiquetzal. The goddess taught the message of the eternal cycle of life to the people through the plant. The Aztecs learned about the flow of eternal life and the mutually connectedness of all things. During the Middle Ages and in all ancient cultures, the Pot Marygold was favoured as colouring agent, medicinal plant, spice and even as miracle plant.
Natural Location:
The Pot Marygold is believed to originate in the Mediterranean region. Since the 12th century it was cultivated in cloister and cottage gardens in northern Europe.
Cultivation:
The Pot Marygold is a light germinator. Seeding directly in the garden bed can be done after the last nightly frosts. Plant the seeds about 1,5 cm deep and 20 cm apart from each other into the earth. Usually, it takes two to three weeks until germination. Seed propagation indoors, however, is possible throughout the year.
Place:
The Pot Marygold prefers a sunny place with nutritious, moderate moist soil.
Care:
Water the plant regularly, as soon as the upper layer of the earth has dried out, and provide it with organic fertilizer during blossoming. From June until October, you may harvest and dry the flowers and leaves. During dry and sunny weather, cut the whole, freshly blown flower heads tightly below the base and staple the harvested parts loosely for a couple of days in a shaded place for drying. After that, you can either pluck out the ray florets and finish drying them off separately, or dry the whole flower heads completely. After drying, you may store the harvested parts in a dry and dark place. The leaves are to be handled in the same way.
During the winter:
The Pot Marygold tolerates mild frosts, but it is not frost-hard. Anyway, the plant will self-seed next year.
Picture credits:
- © © Magnus Manske - GNU - http://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl
- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Magnus Manske - GNU - http://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl
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