The Wonderful Pot Marigold

  We have so many Marigolds at Windmill this year that we are giving them away.  Some are already flowering and will bring you instant delight, others are still small and will flower over the summer.  They are not fussy plants, but prefer sun to shade and need a reasonable amount of water.  Marigolds attract pollinators and beneficial insects like butterflies and ladybirds to our gardens .  As well as livening up our beds, Marigold flowers have many uses.  Katherine Bellchambers our friendly herbalist makes herbal remedies from the petals.  Calendula Officinalis has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.  If you come to one of her workshops you can learn how to make skin salve.  The petals can also be used in salads and to add colour to stir fries, soups etc.  Also dyes.  So please come along and take some.

The two other plants that we have enough of to give away are Horseradish and Borage.  Horseradish is very invasive, so not recommended for small gardens, but if you enjoy your Horseradish sauce and have space, then it is easy to grow.  The root is also very effective at clearing your sinuses when gated and chewed. If you don't have space to grow some yourself, then please come down and dig up some of ours!

Borage is a brilliant plant for bees and other pollinators and flowers all summer. Again it's quite a large plant, so needs space, but if it gets too large or in the way, it can be cut to make liquid compost or put on the compost heap. As well as being used to decorate your Pimms, the flowers can be used in salads and desserts.  The young leaves can be added to salads, cream cheese and yoghurt for a fresh cucumber like crunch.  The older leaves can be cooked like spinach.  So if you fancy growing some yourself, please come and help yourself to our spare plants.  They are potted up and ready to go.

Rosie Jarrett 9th June 2026