Burdock
€4.95
Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a hardy biennial in the daisy family, offered here as a small-medium potted plant, prized for its long, earthy taproot known in Japanese cooking as gobo. In its first year it forms a rosette of large, heart-shaped leaves over a sweet, mild-flavoured root used in stir-fries, soups, stews, pickles and roasts, and long valued in traditional herbal medicine as a cleansing tonic root, brewed into teas thought to support healthy skin; in its second year it sends up branching stems to 1–2m topped with purple, thistle-like blooms loved by pollinators. Easy to grow and undemanding, its deep taproot helps open and improve heavy soil over time. A useful, unusual addition to vegetable gardens, forest gardens and permaculture plots looking to diversify their root crops.
Quantity
Only 2 left in stock
Growing Instructions
Plant in full sun to partial shade in deep, loose, fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter, avoiding stony or compacted ground if growing for straight roots. Water well while young plants establish, and mulch with compost or straw to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Harvest roots in autumn of the first year, before the flowering stem appears, for the most tender eating. Leave a few plants to flower for pollinators, deadheading before seed set if you want to prevent self-seeding.
