{"product_id":"calendula-touch-of-red","title":"Calendula Touch of Red","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCalendula officinalis 'Touch of Red'\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003ePot Marigold 'Touch of Red'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBright orange petals dramatically backed in deep mahogany-red — each flower a two-tone display of warm summer colour against rich, smouldering depth. 'Touch of Red' is the calendula for gardeners who love the warmth of pot marigolds but want a hint of theatre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWhile most pot marigolds are uniformly coloured on both petal surfaces, 'Touch of Red' is striking precisely because of the contrast — bright golden-orange on the upper face of each petal, deep mahogany-red on the underside, creating a flickering two-tone effect as the flowers move in the wind and a particularly rich appearance in low autumn light when the red undersides catch the warm golden glow of late afternoon. Tall (50–60cm), bred for cutting, with strong stems and good vase life. Hardy annual, edible petals, drought-tolerant, RHS Plants for Pollinators recognised. The mahogany-and-orange palette particularly suits autumn arrangements and warm \"harvest festival\" plantings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA note on growing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eLike all calendula, 'Touch of Red' seeds need darkness to germinate. Sow at 1cm depth and cover well with soil. Direct sow from March to May or in September for autumn-sown plants that flower earlier the following year. Germination is fast, 7–14 days. Full sun, in average to poor well-drained soil. Deadhead religiously to extend the flowering season — without it, the plant sets seed and stops blooming. Self-seeds reliably; offspring may show variation in the depth of the red backing as the trait is not perfectly stable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it shines\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eIn the cutting garden for warm autumn arrangements where the mahogany-orange palette echoes the seasonal change — particularly outstanding alongside chrysanthemums, dahlias and other autumn cut flowers. In the cottage border for warm sunset schemes. In the kitchen, the petals are edible and bring rich golden colour to rice dishes, butters and salads (a traditional saffron substitute).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant alongside\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eFor warm autumn cutting, pair with Bronze Fennel and the deep crimson tassels of Amaranthus 'Love-Lies-Bleeding'. For colour contrast, the mahogany-orange against the electric blue of Anchusa 'Blue Angel' or Cornflower is genuinely electric. In the cottage border, combine with Calendula 'Neon' and Achillea 'Cloth of Gold' for a saturated warm scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64766400790877,"sku":"CAL-TOR","price":2.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0953\/1185\/5965\/files\/20488000d7a9097938da852_upscale.jpg?v=1779457432","url":"https:\/\/turfstoreuk.com\/products\/calendula-touch-of-red","provider":"Turf Store UK ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}