The ice herb Mesembryanthemum crystallinum is also called crystal herb or soda herb. The plant originally comes from South Africa, but now also grows on many other coasts, such as Japan, South Australia or California, as it tolerates slightly acidic soil well.

Ice plant is a robust plant for pots and borders

Plant the iceberg correctly

It is best to plant the heat-loving Ice Plant in a dry and sunny place. You will feel really comfortable there. The soil should be sandy to slightly loamy. With good care, you can harvest the thick leaves about every three to four weeks. They taste piquant and spicy, a little like spinach. Prepare a crunchy, tasty salad or steam the leaves as a vegetable.

Water and fertilize the ice plant properly

Ice plant grows about 10 to 20 centimeters high and needs relatively little water. It is better to water regularly in small amounts than only occasionally in bulk, so the ice plant will grow back diligently and you can harvest regularly. If you want to eat the leaves, use fertilizer suitable for vegetables, such as well-rotted compost.

Multiply the ice plant

You can sow the ice plant indoors all year round or outdoors from the end of April or beginning of May. The light germs are only lightly pressed and not covered with soil. With a mini greenhouse (€7.95) or covering with a glass plate, you can keep the moisture constant for the seeds. You can expect the first small harvest after just a few weeks.

Ice plant in winter

Ice plant tolerates light frost and can overwinter well-protected in a mild area in the garden. However, it should not get colder than about - 5 °C to - 10 °C there. Otherwise, a frost-free winter quarters is recommended.

The essentials in brief:

  • easy to maintain
  • Leaves edible, in a salad or steamed
  • Harvest possible every 3 to 4 weeks
  • loves sunny locations
  • also tolerates slightly salty soil
  • blooms in late summer
  • tolerates only light frost
  • suitable as a houseplant
  • only overwinter in the garden when protected

tips

If you don't harvest the whole leaves but only parts of them, the leaves will grow back and you will get a bounty harvest.

Category:

Herbs