Cempaxochitl

Other names: Marigolds

Season: Spring/ Summer (Start seeds in July/ August to have flowers for Dia de los Muertos)

Sun: Full Sun

Plant details: Full orange heads, about 2+ft tall

To harvest edible portion: Remove flower petals and/ or leaves

To harvest seeds: Allow to mature on the plant, allow the flower to die on the stem. When the stem is dry and hard under the flower head, the seeds are mature. For added protection, cover flower heads with mesh bag, to keep the seeds from falling before you harvest them. You can put the bags on whenever you want, once the flowers have bloomed.

Viable seed color: Beige with black ends