- Arnica seeds
- Preparing the young plants under glass or indoors
- Sow the arnica directly in the garden
The heavy use of the medicinal plant arnica, which is now quite rightly considered poisonous, in earlier centuries has ensured that the plant is very rare in many places and therefore protected by law. However, with a bit of luck and the right conditions, it can also be grown in the garden.
The seeds for sowing can be collected in the fall
Arnica seeds
The plant belongs to the daisy family and not only resembles the dandelion in terms of the color of the flowers: after all, the seeds of arnica that ripen in autumn are also equipped with small umbrellas. After a successful settlement in the garden, the plant spreads either with the wind or by passing wild animals. You can also collect the seeds of your first arnica specimens in the garden and sow them in pots the following spring.
Preparing the young plants under glass or indoors
February is the best time to grow arnica in the greenhouse or on the windowsill. Since they germinate in the light, the seeds should not be covered with seed compost. Due to the circulation of warm air on the windowsill, care must be taken to ensure that the soil in the planters does not dry out. From May, the young plants can then be transplanted to a suitable outdoor location. If you have a calcareous soil in your garden, you need a little help: Dig small planting holes at the planned location and fill them with a slightly acidic plant substrate (e.g. peat) when planting.
Sow the arnica directly in the garden
From May, the seeds of the arnica can also be sown directly on the spot in the garden. Because of the easier care and the demands on the soil, a culture in a pot on the terrace can also make sense. When sowing the light germinators in the garden, wind and weather can cause the seeds to drift. You should therefore take appropriate precautions when sowing and have some hay or fine lawn clippings ready. Scatter this material over the arnica bed after sowing to help the seeds stay in place as desired.
tips
As a gardener, you need patience to grow arnica from seeds in the garden: Most of the home-grown plants only flower in their third year and only then produce seeds themselves for further propagation.