Calendula in Zone 10a & 10b
Calendula officinalis
When to plant calendula in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. In your zone, Calendula needs a head start on the heat that direct-sowing elsewhere doesn't require.
| Window | Fall window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Aug–Sep |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Sep–Nov |
| Estimated bloom | Oct 21–Jan 19 '27 (~50 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2 ft.
Zone 10b dates sourced from growinginthegarden.com.
Calendula is one of the earliest things you can get in the ground. It tolerates a light frost and is often started before most of the garden is even planted, and it earns its keep once established, commonly reported to draw in the predatory insects that prey on tomato hornworms. What you get for the trouble is a low, 12- to 18-inch mound covered in simple daisy-like blooms in orange or yellow.
How calendula fits zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Calendula needs about 50 days from sowing to first harvest.
Good companions
- Tomato: Penn State Extension confirms calendula attracts beneficial insects that prey on aphids — the more specific claim that it targets hornworm predators isn't what that research actually shows, so treat calendula as a general aphid-predator draw near tomatoes rather than a hornworm-specific one.
Where to buy calendula seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing calendula" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 10b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Calendula in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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