Calendula

[Kirsty_84]

I've sown some calendula which have gone a bit leggy, they're falling over - when I pot them on can I bury the stem like I would with tomatoes?
In fact, can you do this with any flowers, or not?

[sagegreen]

Calendula's and pot marigolds are pretty hardy and forgiving, so give it a try. I wouldn't suggest you do this with flower seedlings in general though

[Kirsty_84]

That's good to know, thanks

I just noticed you're 'west of Penzance' - I'm very jealous! One of my favourite parts of the country

[Two_Sheds]

Calendula's and pot marigolds are pretty hardy and forgiving

Calendula aka pot marigold
Hardy means "not frost tender", which means you can sow them direct outside (not indoors).

No, I wouldn't bury the stem of a flower: they aren't like tomatoes, which are able to grow roots from their stems.

Where are you growing them?

[rustylady]

My best calendula grow from self-sown seedlings from last year's plants. They're coming up like weeds at the moment. The worst thing you can do is coddle them. If you're sowing from seed then keep them cool.

[sagegreen]

My best calendula grow from self-sown seedlings from last year's plants. They're coming up like weeds at the moment. The worst thing you can do is coddle them.

Absolutely right rustylady; we have literally dozens of calendula (also known as pot marigolds, thank you Two Sheds for the correction) seedlings come up every year, some get trodden on, others knocked sideways by the hoe and buried up to their leaf-tips. But 99% grow on happily and produce their beautiful flowers which we tend to leave amongst other crops.

[sarraceniac]

Actually, repotting deeper for legginess is not a bad idea. TS is quite right of course that they won't develop extra roots from further up the stem, but it does help to support them and stop them blowing over and snapping.

[Kirsty_84]

Interesting views here, thanks all.

I might re-pot some as they are and the others I'll bury the stem and see if there's any difference