Khella - Toothpick-Plant [Ammi visnaga]

The annual until biennial Khella is an old cottage garden variety and medicinal plant that is ideal for use as a cut flower and dried arrangement. The active ingredients are used successfully in homeopathy. Ideal for direct sowing, pot cultivation possible, sowing in spring, good for mixed culture, harvesting the flowers and leaves.

 Description 
Khella is a annual until biennial old medicinal plant that has been known since ancient times and is also a very popular cut flower. The medicinal plant was already valued in ancient Egypt for its effective healing properties; today the active ingredients obtained from the seeds are used in homeopathy as an antispasmodic. Medicinally, the plant extracts have a blood circulation-promoting effect. The species originally comes from southern Europe and West Asia and is now only widespread in a few locations in Central Europe. The plants prefer to colonize dry ruderal areas. The stately plants form large white umbel flowers, which is why the versatile umbelliferous plant is also ideal as a cut flower and is also used for dry arrangements. Popular bee pasture.

 General information 
Plant family: Apiaceae
Life cycle: Annual until biennial
Days to harvest: 160 days
Plant height approx.: 80 cm
Root type: Deep rooter
Nutrient requirements: High
Water requirements: Medium
Winter hardiness: Up to 0°C
Location: Sunny
Soil: Permeable, humus-rich loamy soil

pH value: 6.5 to 8.5

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Light germinator
Sowing depth: 0 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 15-20 °C
Germination time: 10-20 days
Plant and row spacing: 30x40 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 2-3 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: -
Unfavorable mixed culture: -

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Direct sowing from March to May is recommended. The plants should ideally be in a sunny location.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Direct sowing from April to May is recommended. The plants should ideally be in a sunny location.

 General recommendations 
Direct sowing is recommended. After germination, thin out the plants to the specified plant spacing.
Khella - Toothpick-Plant prefers a permeable, nutrient-rich, moist and humus-rich loamy soil. Doesn't tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
Khella likes loose and deep soil in full sun. For cut flowers, a sufficient supply of nutrients is important in order to develop large plants. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water retention capacity, it is recommended to add biochar and rock flour.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds.

 Plant care 
No maintenance required. Fertilization is recommended every 6 months.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Ammi visnaga, Visnaga daucoides, Daucus visnaga
English names: Khella, Toothpick-Plant, Bishop´s herb
German names: Bischofskraut, Zahnstocher Ammei, Zahnstocher-Knorpelmöhre
Portuguese names: Bisnaga
Spanish names: Biznaga
French names: Khella, Herbe aux Cure-Dents

 Origin 
Country: Germany