金盞菊（金盞花 / C. officinalis nana）在自然療法中一直備受注目，因其外用内服皆適合，有防止抽筋痙攣、壓制炎症、幫助傷口皮膚組織重生，以及舒緩經痛等多樣功效。
金盞菊為一年生草本，發芽適溫20℃，生長最佳溫度為15℃，因此香港的秋冬季十分適合種植。標準的發芽日數為7至14天，但這個品種只需5天，我們在花園播種3天後便發芽了！7天左右，子葉已經茁壯成長。
Calendula (C.officinalis nana) has been a star in naturopathy such as Ayuveda, for it can be applied to our body externally or eaten. It is said to be useful for preventing muscle spasm, anti-inflammatory, benefit wound healing and scar formation, and menstrual pain relief.
The seeds of this annual herbaceous emerge at 20℃, and the best growing temperature is 15℃, which makes it one of the perfect flower species to be grown in Hong Kong's Autumn and Winter. Calendula usually emerges within 7 to 14 days, but these seeds emerged 3 days after DOS (date of sow)! As it reaches the 7th day, they are growig into healthy seedlings.
金盞花-清新橙色 播種後約一星期 / Calendula - Clear Orange one week after date of sow
金盞菊播種 Calendula Seed Sowing
金盞菊的種子呈新月形，大小約為1cm。在香港，秋分過後開始適合播種。
把 2~3 粒種子放於 6~7.5cm盆内（你可以選擇這種軟膠盆），覆土約1cm。
泥土選用有機質豐富、排水良好的泥土。金盞菊喜弱鹼性泥土，有些人會使用赤玉土加上泥炭苔，亦有人會利用蛭石，但我們選用了自己的種植泥培苗。你也可以加上較高比例的珍珠岩，以增加疏水效果。
Calendula seeds are crescent-shaped, approximately at the size of 1cm. In Hong Kong, they can be sowed after Autumn Equinox.
Place 2 to 3 seeds into 6~7.5cm pots (like these plastic pots), cover soil of approximately 1cm depth. Choose soil that is rich in nutrients and well-drained. Calendula prefers slightly alkaline soil. Some people mix akadama and peat moss, some use vermiculite to cover, but we simply used our potting mix to cultivate seedlings. You can also increase the ratio of perlite for better drainage.
金盞菊的種子呈新月形 / The crescent-shaped seeds of calendula
幼苗照顧及定植 Seedling Care and Transplanting
幼苗出土後，移至通風良好而光綫明亮的地方。注意光綫不足會導致幼苗徒長。
幼苗長出 2~3 組真葉時，可以進行間拔。當幼苗長出 4~6 組真葉，以及根系完全包裹泥土、形成泥膽的時候，就可以進行定植。
定植後可以每星期略施氮肥，但注意過度施肥會導致幼苗徒長。如果使用我們的有機肥，分量為每星期大半湯匙左右。同樣注意金盞菊喜弱鹼性泥土，適時補充熟石灰平衡酸鹼度。
When seed emerged, move your tray or pots of seedlings to a place with bright sunlight and ventilation. Lack of sunlight may lead to leggy growth.
When 2 to 3 sets of true leaf appear, consider thinning. When 4-6 sets of true leaf appear and roots are formed to pot bound, it is the time to transplant.
After the seedlings are transplanted, you may consider adding fertilizer every week, but over fertilization will cause spindly growth and unhealthy plant too. If you are using our organic fertilizer, you may wish to add more than half a teaspoon every week. Remember calendula enjoys slightly alkaline soil, so you may want to add hydrated lime to balance soil pH.
把幼苗移至光綫充足及通風的地方 / Move seedlings to spots filled with sunlight and good ventilation
開花及採收 Flowering and Harvest
金盞菊-清新橙色 可於半日照生長，但全日照最爲理想，且通風必須良好。
播種約10星期後進入開花期。如果以15cm或以下的盆栽種植，則可能延後 1~2星期左右。
如果你想確保最大藥用價值，可以在清晨露水退去後，採收半開的花朵。金盞菊的葉和花都有類似的功效，但你可以只採收花朵，讓整個季節都有收成。採收越頻繁，開花的機率越高，也可以防止金盞菊結出種子而早衰。
金盞菊收成後曬乾，就可以浸泡金盞花油、製作各類護膚品、或作爲花茶飲用。
Calendula - Clear Orange can be grown part-shade, but best under full sun. Good ventilation is crucial. Flowering occurs 10 weeks after date of sow, and will delay 1 to 2 weeks if your pot is under 15cm.
If you want to ensure biggest medicinal benefits of calendula, it is best to harvest them in the morning after dew has dried, and when the flowers are not fully bloomed. Calendula leaves offers medicinal benefits just like their flowers, but you may wish to snip flowers only for full season harvest. Pick calendula early and frequently for more flowers, while also avoid emergence of seeds to prolong harvest.
Dried your calendula harvest, then you can create calendula oil, all kinds of beauty products like salve, or simply drink them as floral remedy.