Chickweed reproduces by seeds and very successfully. A carpet of plants can grow from a single plant in a very short time. If we want the weeds in our garden, it's a blessing. Otherwise, laborious weeding awaits the gardener.

Chickweed produces flowers and seeds all year round

24/7 seed production

Seeds develop from flowers. And flowers are almost always found in chickweed. The seed production runs without a break.

  • Chickweed blooms all year round
  • even on cold days of the year
  • provided there is no frost

In this way, each plant easily manages to produce several generations within a year.

Considerable amount of seeds

Reliable sources put the number of seeds produced by a single chickweed per year at up to 15,000! If only part of it germinates, this weed doesn't have to worry about its survival.

Flowers become seed pods

The life of each white, about 6 mm large flower ends in a capsule fruit. Inside are the tiny seeds until they are fully ripe. Chickweed is a so-called self-disperser. She does not depend on the help of animals for the successful dispersal of the seeds. Its natural spread through wind and rain is sufficient.

Impressive germination

Chickweed seeds can germinate in the soil under optimal conditions for up to 60 years. This may also explain why “weeds” sometimes grow out of the blue in the garden, of which there was no trace far and wide years ago. If you spot chickweed in the garden and you absolutely want to fight it, you should keep this fact in mind. So don't let the plants bloom in the first place.

Chickweed seeds germinate at temperatures around freezing.

Harvest your own seeds

If you spot chickweed in nature, you can easily harvest the ripe seeds when the time comes. At home you can sow it in portions and look forward to a delicious chickweed salad. Chickweed can even be cultivated on the windowsill.

tips

Before harvesting the seeds, make sure that the plant is actually the edible chickweed and not the slightly poisonous chickweed.

commercial seeds

Chickweed is becoming more and more popular, so traders are involved and offer seeds for sale. Part of the offer is aimed at bird owners. Chickweed was not given this name for nothing. It is a popular feed for chickens and other poultry.

However, the seed is not fed directly, but only the green that grows from it. At room temperature, the seeds will germinate after 1-2 weeks. These self-grown plants are not reserved for budgerigars. Humans can eat them too.

2000 chickweed seeds cost about two euros.

Category:

Herbs