I am planning to make a Marigold Salve, so I have been harvesting the Mariglod petals from the garden after the latest hot spell before the rain spoiled them – but also leaving enough flower heads to give seeds for next year. I have also got some almond oil and ordered beeswax off the internet – you’ll probably have difficulty getting it locally, but its cheaper online, anyway. I will also order some more almond oil as its much cheaper, though you have to buy quite large quantities.

I have put the almond oil into a small kilner jar and added the marigold petals – I have then closed up the jar with the wire closures and will put it in the sun in my porch for about two weeks or so, shaking every day. I’ll look how its going and, if I can harvest enough, add some more petals. I’ll probably end up with around ½ pint or 300 ml of marigold oil, and for this amount I’ll need 10z or 25g of beeswax.