Anyone can really grow barbara herb - the native winter cress is undemanding and is content with a pot as a home. It is also he althy and versatile.
Winter cress has been used in naturopathy for a long time because of its high vitamin content. The inconspicuous herb is undemanding in cultivation and is also ideal for novice gardeners. You can find out everything you need to know about sowing, caring for and using the bittercress here.
Barbara herb: origin and properties
The common barbarian herb (Barbarea vulgaris) is also called barbary cress or winter cress. The plants belong to the large cruciferous family (Brassicaceae), which also includes rocket (Eruca sativa), radish (Raphanus sativus) and cabbage ( Brassica ssp.). The winter cress can be found in almost all parts of the world in temperate latitudes. Barbarakraut probably owes its name to Saint Barbara, who is commemorated on December 4th. Because the herb is still green and edible.
In practice, the cress species makes hardly any demands on its environment: winter cress grows in meadows, on roadsides, embankments, river banks and many other locations. The biennial plants are rosette-shaped in the first year. Only in the second year do they grow to a height of 30 to 90 cm and flower. In the second year between May and July, the bittercress produces many compound inflorescences consisting of yellow individual flowers with four petals. If the flowers are fertilized, elongated pods with several seeds develop in autumn. The leaves of the winter cress are multipinnate, with several leaflets per stem. They can be used in salads or cooked leafy greens and are slightly spicy.
Tip: If you collect winter cress in nature, you should also know the erysimum (Sisymbrium officinale) to avoid confusion avoid. It looks similar to the bittercress, especially during flowering. Erysimum, however, is considered to be slightly poisonous. yourLeaves are lance-shaped and somewhat pinnate. They look similar to arugula leaves.
Sowing winter cress: This is how it works
Winter cress is most easily grown from seed. You can prefer young plants indoors, but the bittercress also germinates very well outdoors. The herb grows in almost all locations, but particularly well in a partially shaded to sunny spot with nutrient-rich, sufficiently moist soil. The seeds can be sown from March to October. The earlier you sow the bittercress, the earlier the tasty leaves can be harvested. If the seeds are sown in spring, the plants can be harvested in the same year. If the soil is sandy or very clayey, it is advisable to incorporate potting soil into the top 10 cm of soil. You need about 30 liters of soil per square meter. Our Plantura organic herb & growing soil is a good, water-storing basis and also completely peat-free.
Wintercress is one of the light germinators. To germinate, the seed must lie on the ground and be pressed down. Once you have found a suitable spot, you should keep the seeds about 15 cm apart. After the seeds have been distributed, all you have to do is water vigorously. Be careful not to wash away the seeds.
Tip: If the winter cress is in a very sunny and hot location, the leaves will taste more bitter. For a mild result, you should therefore grow the bittercress in a semi-shady place.
The most important care measures
The winter cress requires little care and is generally quite robust. Only flea beetles can significantly damage young plants. This article will tell you how to recognize and fight flea beetles. If the young plants are too narrow in the bed, thinning out can be helpful. To do this, simply pull the specimens that are too close together out of the ground so that the others can develop better. During the germination phase, the substrate should be kept permanently moist. Mature plants only need to be watered if they are dry for a long time. In the first year, the bittercress usually does not require any additional fertilizer. Fertilization in the spring with an organic long-term fertilizer is recommended during the second year. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer, for example, is well suited for this and releases nutrients over a period of at least threemonths free.
Tip: In spring and when it is dry, young winter cress plants can get punctured leaves from flea beetles. Moisten the soil with a layer of mulch prevent this - you can find out more about this in our pest article.
Harvesting and storing common bittercress
The leaves of the winter cress can be harvested almost all year round. Even at the beginning of December, the hot and spicy green can still be used. Wrapped in a damp cloth, they can be stored in the fridge for a maximum of two days. For the best aroma, the leaves should only be processed fresh. During the flowering period in the second year, they have a slightly bitter taste. To harvest, pick individual leaves growing from the rosette. Be careful not to remove too many at once to allow the plant to continue photosynthesizing. After flowering, pods with multiple seeds develop. These can also be harvested and used in a similar way to mustard. To do this, collect the dry pods in autumn and open them over a bowl to catch all the seeds.
By the way: When growing bittersweet in a greenhouse, different parts of the plant can be harvested all year round.
Barbara herb: effect and use
All parts of the bittercress plant are edible, so non-toxic to humans and pets. The plants have been used in naturopathy for a long time, mainly because of the high content of vitamins A and C. In addition, bittersweet leaves contain bitter substances that promote digestion. Winter cress can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen: the leaves can be eaten raw in a salad, used as a dip or steamed with spinach. The seeds can also be processed.
In addition to the bittercress, there are other edible plants with a spicy, hot taste. Nasturtium is similarly easy to grow and delights children in particular with its edible flowers. Learn how to grow nasturtiums in this article.