- Turkish dragon head: origin and characteristics
- Turkish Scorpionfish: Sowing, Location and Co.
- The most important care measures
- Use of the Moldovan Scorpionfish
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The Turkish scorpionfish is mainly cultivated as a tea plant or for bee pasture. We introduce the mint family and give tips on cultivation and use.
The Turkish or Moldavian scorpionfish (Dracocephalum moldavica) is a medicinal plant that we rarely find. It not only has aromatic essential oils, but is also popular with insects. You can find out from us where the Turkish scorpionfish comes from, what its requirements are and how it is cultivated.
Turkish dragon head: origin and characteristics
The Moldavian or Turkish dragon head is also known as dragon head or Turkish lemon balm. The synonyms already indicate the origin of the Turkish dragon head. Originally, the mint family (Lamiaceae) was distributed in south-east Russia, Moldova, Turkey and Iran. The plant probably reached Central Europe around the middle of the 16th century.
The 20 - 40, rarely up to 70 cm high, annual plants grow upright with several branched shoots. The reddish stems are square in shape, typical of mint plants, and the leaves of the Turkish scorpionfish are arranged in a decussate manner. They are lanceolate to wedge-shaped and have rounded, furrowed to coarsely lobed edges. When rubbed, the leaves, which are covered with oil glands, smell lemony and fresh. The flowers of the Moldavian lemon balm appear between June and September. They sit together in terminal whorls and form a blue-violet to white flower reminiscent of an open dragon's mouth from the petals. The center of the lower lip is often darkly stippled. The Moldavian scorpionfish is a favorite of bumblebees and bees because it produces large amounts of sugary nectar. After pollination, the seeds of the Turkish scorpionfish, the so-called Klaus fruits, form. They are about 2 to 2.5 mm long, triangular in shape and dark brown in colour.
Turkish Scorpionfish: Sowing, Location and Co.
The Turkish scorpionfish is not perennial or hardy and is therefore grown from seed every year. In suitable locations, the tea plant likes to sow itself and germinate on site. Pre-cultivation is possible from March to April on a warm, bright window sill. Outdoors, Turkish scorpionfish are sown between May and June after the last late frosts of the Ice Saints. We recommend our Plantura organic herb and seed soil for the pre-cultivation of the tea plant. Unlike many other growing substrates, it does not require any peat at all and thus saves up to 60% of greenhouse gases in production. The high compost content and the low nutrient content facilitate germination and also promote root formation in the young plants. The seeds of the Moldovan dragonhead germinate in the light: Therefore, they are not covered with soil when sowing, but only spread out on a moistened potting soil, lightly pressed and carefully watered. At optimum temperatures of 15 - 20 °C, the first tender plants will germinate after 7 - 14 days. If you want to sow the Turkish dragonhead as bee pasture, you should calculate with about 10 g of seeds per square meter.
The optimal location for the Turkish scorpionfish is sunny and warm on moderately dry to fresh, permeable and humus-rich, calcareous soil. Waterlogged, acidic or clayey, heavy and compacted soils are not suitable for growing Turkish scorpionfish, but can be improved with additives such as lime and sand. Our Plantura organic lawn & garden lime can be applied to all areas with soil that is too acidic, where it increases the pH value of the substrate. The carbonated lime has a fine, low-dust grain size and can be easily spread over larger areas with a spreader. For optimal dosage and application, you should first determine the pH of the soil.
Turkish lemon balm is planted out in flower beds or in pots and planters on patios and balconies from mid-May. Planters should have good water drainage and a drainage layer of gravel or sand and hold at least five liters of soil. The plants need a distance of about 20 - 30 cm to other plants. Pots and troughs can be planted a little closer together to make good use of the space. The young plants are not planted deeper into the ground than they were in the pot before. A nutrient-rich plant is suitable for planting in a bucketPlant substrate like our Plantura organic universal soil is ideal. After planting, it provides the scorpion fish with all the necessary nutrients and promotes vigorous growth and flowering. Moldavian lemon balm sown in the bed should be separated at a sufficient distance so that the plants develop well. After planting, it is watered vigorously.
At a glance: location, planting and sowing of the Turkish scorpionfish
- The optimal location is sunny and warm on permeable, calcareous soil.
- Sow indoors between March and April, outdoors between mid-May and June.
- Place seeds on nutrient-poor substrate, do not cover with soil, water.
- Germination takes place after 1 - 2 weeks at 15 - 20 °C.
- Plant out after the last late frosts from mid-May in beds or planters with at least 5 L pot volume and good drainage.
- Planting distance for use as a tea plant 20 - 30 cm, can be planted a little narrower in the bucket. Bee pastures are not pricked out and sown closely.
- Water vigorously once after planting.
The most important care measures
Turkish scorpion fish can be grown without any special care measures. Growing weeds should be removed regularly. Regular watering may be necessary on hot and dry summer days, especially for specimens in pots. Fertilization is not necessary on normal garden soil. The plants die when the seeds are ripe in autumn, but at the latest when the first frosts begin, and can then migrate to the compost. If you want to prevent the often generous seeding, you should harvest the plants generously so that new flowering shoots and never ripe seeds are formed. Alternatively, cut off the scorpionfish after flowering and remove it from the bed.
Use of the Moldovan Scorpionfish
The herb of the Moldovan scorpionfish smells of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and can also be used. The Turkish balm is harvested when it is in bloom, as this is when the highest content of aromatic oils, above all citral and geraniol, as well as other beneficial active ingredients are present. Whole shoots including flowers and leaves are cut with secateurs and used fresh or for dryingdesigned.
Traditionally, the crushed, dry herb of the Turkish scorpion fish is prepared as a tea. For this purpose, one to three teaspoons are poured over 200 ml of boiling water and enjoyed after ten minutes. The effect of the Turkish dragon head is slightly antispasmodic and calming. It can therefore be used for menstrual cramps and digestive problems. The aromatic, lemony note also enriches liqueurs, desserts or sweet pastries in the form of spices. In addition to being used as a medicinal and aromatic plant, the attractive inflorescences can also be used as cut flowers in vases.
The Tufted Beauty (Phacelia) is also considered to be a particularly nectar-rich flowering plant. We introduce the bee friend in the profile.