Woodruff grows in many forests as a ground cover and has been collected for centuries as a medicinal plant and flavoring. The plant can be grown in a suitable location but also in your own garden.

The perfect location for the woodruff

In the wild, the woodruff only grows in certain places in forests with preferably deciduous trees. Therefore, it can only form harvestable stocks in the garden if the location and care meet its needs. Choose a place for the woodruff that is protected from direct sunlight under a tree or under bushes. The soil should be as loose as possible and store moisture well, but the location should not tend to waterlogging. While woodruff is generally hardy, at higher or exposed elevations it should be covered with a layer of leaves during the winter.

Growing woodruff in pots

In principle, the woodruff can also be grown in pots like other herbs and medicinal plants. However, the woodruff is more prone to dry damage than herbs from the south such as rosemary and oregano. That's why a shady place is a must even when growing in a pot on the balcony or terrace. In addition, the planter should be large enough, since the woodruff spreads with its roots in the ground and thus multiplies. It will be easier for you to keep the woodruff evenly moist in the pot if you first line the planter with some clay and then fill it with a permeable substrate.

Sow and harvest woodruff

In order to be able to harvest woodruff for use in the kitchen in spring before the flowering period, you must sow the seeds in the previous autumn. Pay particular attention to the following factors:

  • cover the seeds about 1/4 inch deep with soil
  • to ensure even moisture during the germination phase
  • do not sow the individual seeds too close together

tips and tricks

If you already have stocks of woodruff in your garden, you can also multiply them by dividing dug up rootstocks.

WK

Category:

Herbs