Hi .. thanks for sharing.. do you cut calendula at bud stage as they show color? I'm ready to give up zinnias. This year is my last year growing .. due to powdery mildew. Mulching and succession planting more often I and praying helps.
Hello and you’re welcome! 😊I like to cut calendulas for cut flowers when they are 1/2 way open in the mornings. To dry them I like to harvest the flowers in the morning but after the dew has dried and the flowers are fully open. Zinnias are definitely prone to powdery mildew. Especially in areas that are hot and humid. Giving them some extra space so they have good air movement helps. I do succession plant in case of windstorms, excess powdery mildew, or they just tire out. I have heard that the Oklahoma series zinnias are more resistant to powdery mildew, I will pay more attention this year and see if it is true. I hope this helps & hopefully you have a powdery mildew free year! 🌸
I found the same issue with Calendula. As I cut it, it curled and got sticky and changed to a less attractive shade of color. Thought it was just me! :)
:) Yes, that is a good description of what happened to me when cutting calendulas last year. I have heard people talk about them becoming sticky, but never the curling and color change. I wonder if there is a way to prevent this? 🧐😊
