Winter Cress - St. Barbara Herb [Barbarea vulgaris]

The biennial St. Barbara herb is an undemanding wild salad and medicinal plant that is used in naturopathy to purify the blood. The taste of the leaves is spicy and slightly hot. Ideal for direct sowing, pot cultivation possible, sowing spring-autumn, good for mixed culture, harvest the leaves.

 Description 
St. Barbara herb, also known as winter cress, is a biennial, hardy and undemanding wild plant and is named after the patron saint Barbara, who is believed to protect miners and related professions. The species originally comes from Eurasia and today thrives in almost all of Europe due to its robustness. Winter cress can be used raw or steamed as a salad or vegetable and has a blood-purifying effect and is therefore used in natural medicine. The fresh leaves have a spicy, slightly hot taste that is reminiscent of watercress, but less hot.

 General information 
Plant family: Brassicaceae
Life cycle: Biennial
Days to harvest: 100 days
Plant height approx.: 60 cm
Root type: Deep rooter
Nutrient requirements: Low
Water requirements: Medium
Winter hardiness: Up to -15°C
Location: Sunny until semi shady
Soil: Permeable, humus-rich loamy soil

pH value: 4.8 to 7.5

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Light germinator
Sowing depth: 0 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 16-20 °C
Germination time: 7-20 days
Plant and row spacing: 15x20 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 3-4 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Chard, Strawberry, Spinach, Lamb's lettuce
Unfavorable mixed culture: Lettuce, Carrot, Rocket, Cabbage, Asian mustard greens, Horseradish, Watercress, Radish

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
We recommend direct sowing from January to March or in autumn from October to December. The ideal location for the plants is partial shade.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Direct sowing from March to May is recommended. The plants are best placed in a sunny to partially shaded location.

 General recommendations 
Direct sowing in rows is recommended. After germination, thin out the plants to the specified plant spacing.
St. Barbara herb does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water storage capacity, additional incorporation of biochar and primary rock flour is recommended.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds.

 Plant care 
Only occasional weeding of surrounding herbs. No fertilization necessary.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Barbarea vulgaris
English names: Wintercress, Yellow rocket
German names: Echte Winterkresse, Barbenkraut, Gewöhnliches Barbarakraut, Bärbelkraut
Portuguese names: Erva santa Barbara, Agrião de inverno
Spanish names: Berro de invierno, Berro
French names: Cresson d'hiver

 Origin 
Country: Germany