Wormwood [Artemisia absinthium]

The perennial wormwood is an ancient medicinal plant and one of the most important bitter herbs. A tea helps with headaches and inflammation. Suitable for making liquid manure. Ideal for direct sowing or pre-cultivation, pot cultivation possible, sowing spring-summer, good for mixed culture, harvesting the leaves.

 Description 
Wormwood is a very old perennial medicinal plant that was already used as herbal medicine by the ancient Egyptians. Hippocrates also used the herb to treat jaundice and tetanus, among other things. The alcoholic drink "absinthe" made from the herb enjoyed great popularity in the 19th century due to its digestive and intoxicating properties. One of the most important bitter herbs, which is also used as a tea to help with headaches and inflammation. The plants are gray-green in color with finely hairy surfaces and have a strong aromatic scent with an exceptionally bitter taste. Wormwood gives off an odor that cats avoid. A liquid manure made from it is very suitable for treating ants and other insects.

 General information 
Plant family: Asteraceae
Life cycle: Perennial
Days to harvest: 120 days
Plant height approx.: 120 cm
Root type: Deep rooter
Nutrient requirements: Medium
Water requirements: Low
Winter hardiness: Up to -30°C
Location: Sunny
Soil: Permeable, humus-rich sandy loam soil

pH value: 6.5 to 7.5

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Light germinator
Sowing depth: 0 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 16-18 °C
Germination time: 7-21 days
Plant and row spacing: 50x50 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 2-3 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Currant, leek
Unfavorable mixed culture: -

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

 General recommendations 
Sow directly by scattering the seeds. For pre-cultivation, sow the seeds in small pots and let the seedlings grow until the first visible wormwood leaves appear. Then plant the pre-grown plants from the pots directly into the open ground. Plant the seedlings in the bed at the earliest from the second pair of leaves after the cotyledons.
Wormwood prefers a permeable, nutrient-rich, dry to moist and humus-rich sandy loam soil. Doesn't tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
A liquid manure made from the herb drives away aphids, mites, cabbage white butterflies, codling moths, flea beetles, rust fungi and ants. The plants die above ground in winter and sprout again in spring. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water retention capacity, it is recommended to also incorporate biochar and primary rock flour.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds or cuttings.

 Plant care 
Additional watering is only necessary on hot days, but regular watering results in more stable growth. Fertilization is only recommended in spring.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Artemisia absinthium
English names: Wormwood
German names: Wermut, Gemeiner Wermut, Alsem, Bitterer Beifuß
Portuguese names: Absinto
Spanish names: Ajenjo
French names: Absinthe

 Origin 
Country: Portugal