In its tropical homeland as a vegetable and kitchen herb, mushroom herb is a real insider tip for an extraordinary home-grown aroma!
With its steel-blue panicles of flowers and shiny leaves, Rungia klossii doesn't exactly look like a typical kitchen herb, but more like an exotic ornamental plant. The euphonious botanical name hides the mushroom herb, which is currently becoming more and more popular in German gardens. The German name is derived from the intense forest mushroom aroma, which has surprised many a test eater. In contrast to most other kitchen and aromatic herbs, mushroom herb belongs to the acanthus family, so it is more closely related to the black-eyed Susan than to rosemary or parsley. In its homeland, the highlands of Papua New Guinea, the fleshy leaves of the mushroom herb are a popular leafy vegetable. It is hardly known in this country, but the herb is an excellent ingredient for all kinds of mushroom dishes.
Synonyms: Rungia, engl. mushroom plant
Cultivation of mushroom herb
Mushroom prefers sunny to semi-shady locations and nutrient-rich, humus-rich soil. If you have rather poor soil or would like to grow mushrooms in pots, it is best to use a high-quality soil such as our peat-free Plantura organic universal soil. Since it is exposed to tropical rain showers in its homeland, watering should not be neglected. Regular watering is therefore a must, especially during dry periods!
Despite its tolerance of light frosts, fungal weed is best overwintered indoors. This means you can harvest comfortably from the window sill all winter long. We therefore recommend pot culture, which makes overwintering a breeze!
Varieties: mushroom remains mushroom
So far only the natural form of the herb has been commercially available. Varieties with distinguishable characteristics are not yet known.
Propagating mushrooms by cuttings
The propagation of mushrooms by cuttings is the most widespread. For this purpose, up to 25 cm long shoots are planted deep in organic seed compost, because the new roots form at the leaf nodes. About rotTo prevent this, however, the lower leaves of the shoots should be removed. You now also want to grow mushrooms in the garden? You will find helpful tips and tricks in our installation instructions.
Care of Mushroom Herb
Despite its tropical origins, shroomweed is easy to grow given its water and nutrient needs. It loves nutrient-rich soils - primarily organic fertilization in the spring is therefore recommended. It is best to use a long-term fertilizer for this, such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer, which slowly and gently releases its nutrients to the plant.
You should water regularly because the plant is adapted to tropical downpours. If the shoots of the mushroom herb are not cut regularly, they will increasingly begin to lignify and produce less leaf mass. By regularly shortening the shoot tips, the plant develops a bushy growth. It also copes well with an occasional radical cut just below the floor.
Harvesting and storage of mushroom herb
The approx. 10 cm long shoot tips of the plant are harvested - regular harvesting can therefore replace tiresome cutting measures. However, the aromatic sprouts can only be stored for a few days, so mushroom herb should always be used fresh.
Ingredients and uses of mushroom herb as a culinary herb and leafy vegetable
In its homeland of Papua New Guinea, mushroom herb is not only used as a seasoning ingredient, but is also one of the most popular leafy vegetables there. No wonder, because mushroom herb is he althy, contains a lot of chlorophyll and even more calcium than kale! However, it is not far from the much-cited use as a vegetable protein source - with just under 3% it contains more protein than mushrooms, but is far behind legumes.
Here in Germany, mushroom herb has mainly been known as a culinary herb that enhances the aroma of mushroom dishes and can enrich salads or sandwiches with another flavor note. It should only be added towards the end of the cooking process, as the mushroom flavor will intensify as it cooks and overpower other flavors.
As a leafy vegetable, mushroom herb can be eaten either raw or cooked and adds a flavorful touch to soups, wok and pasta dishes. The preparation is similar to spinach by briefly blanching or steaming.
Diseases and Pests
So far, neither diseases nor pests are known that can damage the mushroom herb.