Growing St.
John's Wort
by Karen Bergeron
St. John's Wort grows well over most
of North America, in fact, in may states it is considered a noxious weed; therefore it is
pretty easy to grow. Germination is improved by first soaking the seeds overnight in
water of room temperature, then mix with a generous amount of sand and freeze for ten days
before planting. This helps the tiny seeds to open easily upon planting.
When you are ready to plant,
open your seeds over a white piece of paper. Each seed is about the size of a grain of
sand 1/32", there are 7000 to 10,000 seeds in a gram.
Adding dab of cornstarch would probably make them more visible and easier to handle. You
can start them indoors if you wish, or plant directly outside in lightly worked soil. They
don't need much upkeep, fertilize only in the poorest of soils. As with all seedlings, you
shouldn't let them dry out (or be overshadowed by weeds) until well established, after
that they are quite tolerant of dry weather. They like full sun, but tolerate partial
shade. Best blooms will be in the second or third year, always leave a few to reseed as
you would in nature. You can usually harvest blooms twice in a season. Some of the
St. John's Wort that grows on the side of forests tends to be taller, thinner, and darker
green. It is not unusual for St. John's Wort plants to take on a reddish hue; especially
older plants.
St. John's Wort is a bit weedy, and can easily become invasive. Be careful. Order your
seeds today. If you have any questions, I will be glad to answer by e-mail. karen@altnature.com
For More Info, See my Herb
Farming Resource Site at http://www.altnature.com/herbfarming
Info on uses for St.
Johnswort
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