How to Grow Alpha
Calendula officinalis
Your complete guide to growing Alpha.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsWhen to Plant Alpha
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – June | July – September | — |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – August | — |
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – August | — |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – July | — |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – July | — |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – July | — |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – June | — |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – June | — |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – May | — |
| Zone 10 | January | February – April | — |
| Zone 11 | January | January – March | — |
| Zone 12 | January | January – March | — |
| Zone 13 | January | January – March | — |
Companion Plants for Alpha
✓ Good companions
Repel aphids and Japanese beetles with sulfur compounds
Attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects
Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes with strong fragrance
Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles
Provide beneficial shade and attract pollinators and pest-eating birds
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Attract butterflies and beneficial insects while providing color contrast
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many flowering plants
Produces allelopathic compounds that suppress nearby plant growth
Releases growth-inhibiting chemicals harmful to most flowering companions
