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Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: galina on August 22, 2015, 18:36:12

Title: Identification please
Post by: galina on August 22, 2015, 18:36:12
Clearly a mislabelled packet from a seed swap.  I was expecting a quick growing oriental vegetable and this came up.  Or is it an edible flower after all?

Very pretty but what is it please?   :sunny:
Title: Re: Identification please
Post by: Tee Gee on August 22, 2015, 19:03:54
Looks like Calendula ( pot marigold) to me

Don't let it self seed or else you will have it for life!
Title: Re: Identification please
Post by: mrrigsby on August 23, 2015, 08:32:03
I agree with Tee Gee, it looks like Callendula. Seeds are like tiny horseshoes, not at all like any vegetable seed I can think of.
Title: Re: Identification please
Post by: small on August 23, 2015, 08:39:50
I'd agree with TeeGee that it's pot marigold.  But I'd disagree about letting it self seed. I've had a glorious display among my veg this year, you can always hoe off unwanted seedlings once you've learned to recognise them. Enjoy!
Title: Re: Identification please
Post by: Jayb on August 23, 2015, 09:18:20
I'm with the others, Calendula  :sunny:
They are lovely and must admit it's nice to have some self-seed, plus it's really easy to pull out any unwanted ones.
Title: Re: Identification please
Post by: ancellsfarmer on August 23, 2015, 11:58:51
Calendula or Pot marigold.
Has medicinal qualities -try Wikipedia
Has traditionally been used in soups and stews for flavour and colour.
Is a useful ground cover for waste areas, can be harvested before seeds set and used as a green in composting. May be useful as a "tea" if comfrey is not available, earlier in season.
Title: Re: Identification please
Post by: galina on August 23, 2015, 15:22:33
Thank you everybody.  I only knew much smaller yellow flowers as marigold, this big orange one was new to me.  Pot Marigold.  Yes, the seeds were horseshoe shaped.  The flowers are very pretty indeed and I will give them garden room (including weeding it out where needed).

Thank you all   :wave:
Title: Re: Identification please
Post by: Silverleaf on August 24, 2015, 02:14:59
I keep meaning to sow marigolds for my rabbits. I'm not a big fan of orange but I love calendula. Edible for humans too!
Title: Re: Identification please
Post by: Deb P on August 24, 2015, 09:53:26
Love calendula......my favourite is Indian Prince, dark red underside and not too floppy. I've also grown some dwarf varieties this year which make nice neat mounds but are a bugger to deadhead!
Title: Re: Identification please
Post by: johhnyco15 on August 24, 2015, 12:39:55
yes pot marigold just like marmite myself im a lover the flower early and cheer up my seat area borders just about to chop them all back this week going to put gardners world alliums and spring bulbs in over the coming weeks £5.95 for 100 alliums and same price for 120 mixed spring bulbs looking forward to it already lol