Scurvy Grass [Cochlearia officinalis]

The perennial scurvy grass is a traditional culinary and medicinal herb that can be used to treat many illnesses. It has a cress-like taste, spicy to hot. It also grows in saline locations. Ideal for direct sowing, pot cultivation possible, sowing spring-autumn, good for mixed cultivation, harvesting the leaves.

 Description 
Scurvygrass is a very old perennial cultivated plant, culinary and medicinal herb, which has almost been forgotten today and was once highly valued by sailors in the Middle Ages. This frost-resistant species is native to the Atlantic coasts of the northern hemisphere and grows wild in salty and moist locations. The extremely vitamin-rich species forms round to heart-shaped leaves and grows from loose rosettes. The cress-like leaves have a spicy and hot taste and can be harvested well into winter. In medicine it is highly valued for its blood and wound-cleansing, hemostatic and digestive properties. It also helps with urinary tract and respiratory tract infections and with spring fatigue and tiredness.

 General information 
Plant family: Brassicaceae
Life cycle: Perennial
Days to harvest: 80 days
Plant height approx.: 30 cm
Root type: Heart rooter
Nutrient requirements: Low
Water requirements: Medium
Winter hardiness: Up to -5°C
Location: Sunny until semi shady
Soil: Permeable, slightly sandy, slightly loamy, humus

pH value: 5.5 to 7.5

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Light germinator
Sowing depth: 0 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 5-12 °C
Germination time: 10-21 days
Plant and row spacing: 25x30 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 3-4 years

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

 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 sunny to partially shaded.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
We recommend direct sowing from March to April or in autumn from August to September. The ideal location for the plants is sunny.

 General recommendations 
Direct sowing in rows is recommended. After germination, thin out the plants to the specified plant spacing.
Ideally, Scurvy grass prefers a soil that is moist, nutrient-poor, permeable, loose and somewhat stony to sandy, with some clay and plenty of humus. It also tolerates saline soils. It does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
The more humus the soil has, the more lush the scurvy will grow. For a long harvest period, harvest 1/4 of the leaves from the outside inwards and be careful not to damage the heart in order to keep growth stable. 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.

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

 Other names 
Botanical names: Cochlearia officinalis
English names: Spoonwort, Scurvygrass, Cochlearia
German names: Löffelkraut, Gebräuchliches Löffelkraut, Skorbutkraut, Bitterkresse, Löffelblättchen, Löffelkresse, Scharbockskraut
Portuguese names: Cochlearia
Spanish names: Coclearia
French names: Cochléaire

 Origin 
Country: Portugal