When to Plant Calendula in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Calendula guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to May, Aug to Oct
- Days to harvest
- about 10 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 40 cm apart
Calendula, or pot marigold, is a hardy annual with bright orange and yellow flowers. The petals are edible and are used in salads, teas and home remedies.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar S/D
- Apr S/D
- May S/D
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug S/D
- Sep S/D
- Oct S/D
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Calendula included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Calendula in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Well drained soil enriched with plenty of organic matter such as aged manure or compost (Seed Collection).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- Sunlight
- Full sun or part shade, with at least 3 hours of full sun a day (Seed Collection).
- Spacing
- 40cm apart, 60cm between rows
- Watering
- Water deeply when the soil is dry about 5 cm down, in the early morning or late afternoon. Keep foliage dry to avoid fungal disease (Seed Collection). Keep the soil moist but not soggy (Seeds of Plenty).
- Good companions
- Tomato, Carrot, Asparagus, Marshmallow, Nashi
Tropical Growing Tips for Calendula
Recommended Varieties
- Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Key Challenges
- Wet season mildew and rust
- Heat
Pro Tips
- Sow in the cool dry months
- Space for air flow
Pests and problems for Calendula in Tropical
Harvesting Calendula
When ready: Pick the whole flower head in the late morning once the petals have fully opened (Seed Collection).
How to harvest: Cut the flower head, then dry flowers out of direct sun (Seed Collection).
Storing and preserving calendula
How to keep it
- Drying. Dry the flower heads out of direct sun until crisp (Seed Collection), then store whole in a jar.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Calendula
When do you plant calendula in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Feb to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Jun, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Feb to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Feb to Apr, Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Jun, Aug to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Jun, Sep to Dec
Can you grow calendula all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Mar to May, Aug to Oct. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Calendula in Cairns?
Burke's Backyard says it suits most of Australia except the tropics. Seed Collection lists March to May and August to October. Gardenate lists February to December, but wet season heat and mildew make the cool dry months the safe ones.
What soil temperature do Calendula need?
Calendula germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 22°C.
How do I know when Calendula are ready to harvest?
Pick the whole flower head in the late morning once the petals have fully opened (Seed Collection).
What are the best Calendula varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis).
What grows well with Calendula?
Good companion plants for Calendula include: Tomato, Carrot, Asparagus, Marshmallow, Nashi.
Are calendula salt tolerant?
No. Calendula are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.