Seeds to Dye For

This year we're focusing on our little plot of land here in the Oakland hills, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. I plan to dye fabric using plants that are already growing on the property (and am anticipating many shades of brown)! To mix things up, I've ordered seeds from Renee's Garden for annuals that are known to be good for dyeing, including marigold (Tagetes spp.), calendula (Calendula spp.), and coreopsis (Coreopsis spp).

Planning

So far I've planted the calendula seeds (Calendula officinalis) since they bloom best in cool weather. The flowers are typically shades of yellow and orange. I ordered Orange & Lemon Twist and Flashback Calendula. According to Mother Earth News, calendula flowers produce light, lemon yellows, olive-browns, and light browns (depending on the fabric and mordant used). 

Calendula seeds sown in early April

The seeds sprouted within a week (along with quite a few tiny mushrooms). The sprouts range from 2 to 3 inches tall and are quite gangly. I'm notorious for killing sprouts with kindness by overwatering, so am attempting to restrain myself. 

Orange & Lemon Twist on the left, Flashback Calendula on the right

Stay tuned - we'll see how it goes!