Wormwood: What You Need To Know & How To Grow
Just A Few More Seed Packets I Ordered This Week
I am having grandiose plans for my 2018 garden and herb garden. Whether I get a new or bigger greenhouse, use the one I have currently or add another smaller one like I have now to my gardening supplies, nothing is going to hamper my goals and vision of having my best garden with the best harvest yield this year.
- Wormwood
- Calendula (a second variety than already received)
- Spearmint
- Peppermint
- Milk Thistle
- Arugula (had last year but replenishing supply)
- Large Leaf Sorrel
- Little Gems (thank you @hethur240 & @theferalone for recommending this one)
So today I wanted to focus on one specific seed I am waiting to arrive.
WORMWOOD
My plans for wormwood include making herbal tea for digestion and stomach issues as well as for a boost of energy sparingly.
My husband, as well as myself, suffer from the occasional bloated stomach after eating certain meals and I am hoping a cup of herbal wormwood every so often (with mint mixed in for extra flavor) will help this ailment.
Warning according to Dr. Axe website
Wormwood should only be taken under the supervision of a professional. It should always be taken in small doses as directed and for no longer than four weeks at a time.
Wormwood herb is not meant for long-term use. ... The FDA lists wormwood unsafe for internal use due to the toxicity of thujone oil. However, it's considered to be safe when taken by mouth in the amounts commonly found in food and beverages, including bitters and vermouth, as long as these products are thujone-free
According to Absinthe Fever's website
Thujone is a fragrant, oily substance, naturally found in a variety of common plants and flowers. Thujone is perhaps best known in connection with absinthe, the drink that inspired a generation of nineteenth-century artists, writers and thinkers. In absinthe, thujone is thought to be the secret behind the unusual "mind-illuminating" effects (as one French doctor put it) of the special green liquor.
Plus the burst of color from the yellow flowers will add a nice touch to my herb garden.
Plus wormwood is a perennial plant that I can have in my garden for many years to come; and enjoy.
Growing Wormwood
My favorite website Gardening Know How
recommends this for growing wormwood from seed...
Grow wormwood or sweet Annie plant in a sunny location and well-drained soil. This plant doesn’t like being overly wet. Wormwood is generally planted in spring. If starting plants from seeds, sow the small seeds in flats and set the seedlings out in the garden well after the last frost in spring.
Once established, wormwood plants require little care. In addition to occasional watering, these plants can be fertilized once a year. Light pruning can be performed to help keep these plants from becoming unruly, especially the spreading varieties.
So I am pretty much good to go with this one! I am imaging my kitchen garden table and mudroom both FULL of seedling trays come the end of March and into April.I may have to set up a schedule of planting seeds before this gets out of hand QUICK!
I have never come across wormwood before. Myself and the ubster also suffer with bloated stomachs after carby type meals, so maybe this is something I can look at too. I follow Dr Axe for his thyroid advice, he really does know his stuff! leaky gut especially!
I am anxious to see how it works. I am really enjoying broadening my herb knowledge.
Aretmisia is such a useful genus, many species,have great medicinal value. Thanks for posting.
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Back probably at least 20 to 30 years ago, I was at a place called "little 5 points" in Atlanta. It's an area known for being the main place all the hippies still hang out to this day. They had one of the first (and only for many years) Natural Food stores in Atlanta there with a BIG section of bulk dried herbs.
I noticed a sign on the wormwood back then in big bold letters "NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION" along with (in smaller letters) talk about it being illegal to sell it for human consumption. I guess they finally got around to changing that, lol.
But heck, people use to think tomatoes were poisonous, lol. Their leaves are, but the fruit is not.
lol- yes how things have changed!
I am all about stomach health and digestion (ever since my surgery in 2013) and I tire of taking pro-biotics and other medications; especially when I know before these RXs and supplements were developed or made that people used more natural remedies and herbs.
Not going to ask why you were in the area of Atlanta... lol
But it could make for an interesting conversation or post one day!
Hey, I admit, I am an old Hippie from way back, lol. Can't hear worth a darn because I spent so much time dancing on speakers at concerts and to this day, if its got a good beat, I'll dance to it walking down the street, lol.
the perennial aspect & not much of a need for care after establishment is appealing. nice to know you can focus on veggies and quick-harvest herbs & then pamper this guy once a month or so.
do you think this will get large enough the first year to use? or will you set aside some plants to grow with no intent on leaf usage?
It says it should grow to full size (about 3-4 feet) from the get-go. I am just looking forward to a little more color in the herb area. Plus I have freesia seeds on the next order. Those are BEAUTIFUL and full of vibrant colors!
Not sure about the leaf usage yet. I'll still have to research more about them. I guess wormwood was once outlawed for growing (buying seeds) until just a few years ago. Hmm,makes you think... lol
freesia seeds?!?!?! those are some of the sweetest flowers ever, too - so awesome!
Thank you! I love to read posts like this. I think from time to time we all suffer from that bloated feeling that is uncomfortable. Oh, this is the reason I love reading all the homesteading and gardening tips I can.
Thanks again Dawne! tip!
Yes, we have that too when it's a carb loaded meal- which we have cut back on recently, but still.. there are other foods- like brussel sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli too that gives us the belly rumbles!
This is on my list as well though probably for next year! There were a few medicinal plants that I didn't want in the edible landscaping so I have to find a good place for them. Supposedly you can also use wormwood to naturally deworm your farm animals I too am chomping at the bit to get started planting!!
This deworming aspect certainly demands further investigation.
From what I've read it looks like you have to be careful about dosage and how often you use it
I know.. I was surprised by that too. Luckily we have never had that issue or concern but still... interesting info.
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I grow wormwood, too! I got my seeds from Baker Creek. It's a beautiful plant. I love how soft its leaves are. Do be warned though...if you let it go to seed, you will probably regret it. It spreads...and FAST. I've taken to cutting the tiny yellow flowers off before they finish doing their thing. Some escape my clippers and spread their seeds, but I let those grow where they choose for the most part just to make sure if something happens to my main plants, there are still babies to fall back on. Good luck!
If you were in Colorado, you could add some mary jane to the garden.
LOL
Yeah, Colorado is quite laid back,huh?