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Angelica – Grow Your Own “Root of the Holy Ghost”

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Angelica

Angelica a biennial herb that flowers in its second year and has been traditionally used in the production of a general, health-giving tonic. It has a delightful aroma, attractive lacy flowers and the entire plant is edible. Angelica is a native of Syria and is unusual in that it flourishes in colder European countries such as Lapland. It was introduced to the U.S. in the mid-1500’s.

Here is some advice to help you grow your own angelica.

  • Soil, Planting and Care
  • Troubleshooting
  • Harvest and Storage

Planting

Easy to grow, angelica can be sown from seed directly in your garden, best planted in November. The soil temperature should be between 50 °F and 77°F, and the plants should be spaced 18 inches apart to allow for their full spreading branches. Angelica prefers cool climates, semi-shady to sunny beds and will grow to a height of three foot.

The seeds should be gently tamped into the top surface of the soil as they require light to germinate, which can take several weeks.

Soil

Angelica prefers moist, fertile soil that rich in organic matter that is slightly acidic (PH 7 or slightly below) and is well-draining. If your soil is too high in alkaline (above 7 on a PH meter), you can add an organic soil acidifier fertilizer to lower the alkaline and raise the acidity (PH).  Keep the ground loose and open and plant the seeds standing on edge to save them from rotting. Pick the largest seeds to sow as they are more likely to germinate.  The plants are not drought-tolerant, so the soil should be kept moist.

Care

Angelica will initially have red stems and green foliage, with the flowers in the second year being white or yellow. Once the plants have established enough to shade the ground, they pretty much look after themselves. Angelica doesn’t react well to being moved, so ensure you choose the position in your garden where it is to remain.

Troubleshooting

Angelica can quickly take over your garden once it begins to produce seeds, usually in the second growing season. Having produced seeds the plants will die, so you should cut the flower heads to allow it to live for several more years. Angelica will need mulching to protect it in frost-prone areas.

It may suffer from aphids, leaf miners and spider mites, all of which can be removed with a blast of water.

Harvest and Storage

The angelica leaves can be harvested in the first year before the plant flowers, but you should be careful not to damage the delicate main stem. The stems themselves can be harvested in the second year. If you allow the angelica to flower, the seeds can be collected for use as a cake flavoring, but the plant will die afterwards. Fresh angelica roots can be used to create aromatic oil, but they are not edible in their original form.

The tender leaves can be boiled and are similar to spinach, delicious with meat and fish dishes. The stems can be used as salad greens or roasted or boiled as a side dish.

If you intend to use your angelica for culinary purposes, ensure you have the correct variety – archangelica, which is distinguished by its slightly dull leaves. A different variation is pachycarpa, which is definitely not edible and is only grown as an ornamental garden plant. It is identified by its bright shiny leaves.

Have you considered growing your own angelica for its delicate taste and attractive flowers?

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Borage – An Ornamental Herb to Encourage Bees to Your Garden

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Borage
Borage – An Ornamental Herb to Encourage Bees to Your Garden

Borage is an old fashioned herb that may not be as familiar as other favorite herbs as it has few culinary uses. However, it is an attractive plant, easy to grow and it attracts bees to your garden. It is native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean, and is known as the “Herb of Courage”. Borage wine was believed to give Roman soldiers courage and the flowers were often used to decorate their armour of the crusaders departing for battle. The distinctive star-shaped flowers can be blue, pink or white with dramatic black anthers.
Here is some advice to help you cultivate your own borage.

• Soil, Planting and Care
• Troubleshooting
• Harvest and Storage

Planting

Borage can be grown from seed straight into your garden, preferably planted in March, when the soil temperature is between 50°F and 77°F. Seeds should be planted 1/4”-1/2” deep and 6 inches apart, thinning to 12” apart when the plants are 4-6” tall and will grow 2-3 feet in height. It prefers partial shade and moderate watering, and the ground should be kept moist up to germination.
It has a single taproot and doesn’t appreciate being moved, so ensure you plant your borage in a position where it will remain.

Soil

Borage will proliferate in most types of soil but does best in average organic matter that is well tilled and well drained that has a medium PH.  If you are unsure of your soil’s PH, you can purchase a PH test kit here.

Care

Borage is easy to care for, requiring little attention other than regular watering. As it has hollow stems, it needs adequate water to stop the leaves from drooping or curling. Borage plants die down in the winter, but it is a vigorous self-seeder, and you will be unlikely to need to buy any more seeds for the following year, as it will spread itself throughout the garden.

Troubleshooting

Borage does not suffer from any diseases, and is, in fact, said to be beneficial to other nearby plants, strengthening their resistance to insects and diseases. It is said it protects legumes, spinach, brassicas, strawberries and deters tomato hornworm moths from laying eggs on the plants. The one pest that borage may attract is the Japanese beetle, easily identified by its blue-green head and copper back. They devour most of the foliage, leaving only the veins behind. The best way to remove them is to pick them off by hand.
Borage plants can be top-heavy and may require some support in windy conditions to stop the soft stems from breaking.

Harvest and Storage

As borage is grown mainly as an ornamental herb, you may not wish to harvest the leaves, flowers or seeds. Although the leaves are edible, they are covered in fine hairs which make them unpleasant to eat. Their primary use is as a flavoring for gin. The borage flowers are beautiful with five pointed petals forming a star shape, and have a sweet honey taste. They can be added to salads as an edible garnish. The flowers can be harvested by gently separating the petals from their green bases. If not using immediately, they can be frozen in ice cubes for an attractive addition to drinks. Another idea is to crystallize them in sugar for use as cake decorations. They can also be used as potpourri

Borage leaves can be used as an organic fertilizer in your garden following the recipe below:

– Remove the leaves from one of the plants and place them in an air-tight container
– Add just enough water to cover the leaves and seal the lid
– Let the mixture ferment for two weeks
– Remove solids from container
– Mix 1 part Borage mixture to 10 parts water
– Use weekly

Why not grow your own borage to benefit and add a splash of color to your herb garden?