Johanniskraut

created by phteven2 at 01.05.2023

Features

Growth habit

halbhoch

aufrecht

Color

carrot like

goldgelb

Location

Freiland

Fruit shape

bad sort

länglich

Blätter

Resistenzen

robust

Season Overview

Propagating

Planting

Harvest

J

F

M

A

M

J

A

S

O

N

D

1ST YEAR

FOLLOWING YEARS

Description

St. John's wort has been used since ancient times as a remedy for menstrual cramps and cyclical mood disorders. In the 16th century, Paracelsus described the medicinal plant as an herb to combat "agitating spirits" and today St. John's wort is one of the most frequently prescribed mild antidepressants. calms the nerves, relieves inflammation and promotes healing. Caution: St. John's wort can make the skin and eyes sensitive to light. The 50 to 100 cm tall plant roots up to half a meter into the ground and has elongated oval leaves covered with oil glands. The leaves have a translucent dotted pattern caused by oil cells in the leaf tissue. The flowers sprout from the summer solstice in June to September in panicle-like inflorescences and have 5 golden-yellow, free petals. If you rub the flowers or buds between your fingers, they turn red. The ingredient hyperforin is primarily responsible for the effect.

Non hybrid

Frostproof

Growing tips

St. John's wort is a frost and light germinator. It is therefore best sown outdoors in late October or from February. Indoors, it can be grown from seed all year round. To increase germination, the seeds should first be placed in the normal refrigerator area for six weeks (stratification) and then pre-soaked overnight in room temperature water. Then sprinkle the seeds onto a moist growing medium and cover only very lightly with the substrate. Cover the growing container with cling film and make holes in it. This protects the soil from drying out. Remove the foil for 2 hours every two to three days. This prevents mold from forming on the growing medium. Place the growing container in a bright and warm place at 20 to 25° Celsius and keep the potting compost moist, but not wet. It is best to harvest the buds, flowers and branch tips of the decorative perennial plant during the flowering period and then lay them out to dry in the shade. St. John's wort overwinters with a widely branched rhizome that sprouts again in spring. No special protection is necessary.