MULLEIN Verbascum Thapsus

Time to harvest the mullein flowers, seeds, and leaves.

You can find mullein seeds, plants and products in my shop.

Growing

Mullein is a biennial herb. it grows a cute rosette of leave the first year. The second year the rosette grows larger, then starts rising up before shooting a flower spike 4-5 feet high.

Mullein is one of those plants that if you don't know how valuable it is, it can be viewed as a weed and pulled. I found my first mullein growing in the gravel driveway of our city farm.

It likes "disturbed" soil. I start it in my cactus mix. Well draining and loose.

It requires light for germination! So seed a tray, add a humidity dome and keep under a light. Also seeds outdoors easily.

Harvest is done on 2nd year plants in July - August. The leaves and root are dried. Flowers can be used fresh or dried. The flowers emerge like popcorn, just randomly and over several weeks. It isn't an easy harvest for the flowers. Very time consuming and daily. This is the reason why any product using mullein flowers is more costly - manual labor is high.

uses

Leaves and flowers can be eaten in salad.

The leaves are soft and hairy and known as "Cowboy toilet paper." It is a wonderful plant for a children's garden. The plant is edible, but the seeds are toxic, so if using in a children's garden, the seed heads must be removed before drying.

The Native Americans used the ground seed as a fish poison. This is the use that it was brought over for by the Europeans.

Used in herbal medicine for lung issues.

Final Thoughts

Mullein is a highly desirable herb. It is very easy to grow. A tall showy plant that I think looks great in the garden. I wouldn't be without it.

specs

Verbascum Thapsus

Type: Biennial

Uses: Border, edible flowers

Hardiness Zone: 3-9

Germination: cold stratify 4-6 weeks or direct sow in fall, needs light for germination, can be started indoors 6 weeks before last frost and transplanted out after frost date

Seed Depth: None

Germination Time: 12-15 days

Growing Temp: 65-70° F

Height: 4-6 feet, up to 10 feet Spread: 2 feet

Spacing: 2-3 feet

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade Water Requirements: Average, drought tolerant

Soil Quality: Loose

prefers alkaline

Soil Chemistry: prefers alkaline

Fertilize: Not needed

Growth Rate: Slow first year, fast second year

Bloom time: July-August Attracts: Butterflies Critter Resistant: Most

Critter Attractant: No

Harvest: All parts 2nd year July-August

Pruning: Not needed

Pests: Aphids, pretty pest resistant

Diseases: Root rot, don't over water

Reseeds: Yes

Propagation: Seed only

Garden Style: English cottage

Companions: Peonies, Russian sage, lady’s mantle, sedum, coneflower, ornamental grasses

Traditional Medicinal Uses: Yes, should not be used by pregnant or nursing women

Allergy Potential: Contact dermatitis in some people

Welcome!

Welcome to my newest blog! 

As I leave teaching and begin doing my farm, garden and craft business full-time, I wanted to have a place to be more transparent and in-depth about what I do, how I do it, and why. Same as I was with my teaching blog. Facebook posts and product descriptions can only provide so much information. This format allows me to go into very detailed information on the items I sell and be able to readily answer questions. Of course, you can always email me at jostlingc@gmail.com, too. 

I still consider myself teaching, just a different line of instruction. There are no bad questions, and I hope to create a community of homesteading learners and experts here to advance anyone who has a homesteading dream and a desire for more organic and natural processes, medicinals and products.

ZEBRINA "HOLLYHOCK" [Malva sylvestris]

I LOVE Zebrinas! They have been a staple in my flower beds for over 20 years. While I love regular hollyhocks, these little scrappy, happy bits of flower joy just make my heart sing when I see them. They prolifically bloom for a long time!

You can find seeds and transplants in my shop.

growing

Zebrinas are actually a mallow flower and not a true hollyhock.

While listed as a perennial, they grow for me more as a biennial. Second year plants don't overwinter for me happily when we have harsher winters, and they don't seem to be healthy when they do. I would imagine if I cut them down and mulched I would have a better outcome. I may try that this year. In more northern regions they can be grown as an annual. They will bloom the first year. For a longer bloom, start indoors 6 weeks before planting out after last frost.

They really aren't particular about soil or water. But, they do need full sun. Without full sun they get a bit leggy and floppy. But still very pretty. They can be staked if needed, but if grown in the right conditions, it is unnecessary. Height is 2-4 feet, most of mine have been right around 3 feet tall.

specs

Malva Sylvestris

Type: Perennial

Use: Cut flower, border, specimen, mass planting

Hardiness Zone: 4-8

Germination: cold stratify 6-8 weeks in freezer or direst sow in fall

Seed Depth:

Germination time: 14-28 days

Growing Temp: 65-70° F

Height: 2-4 feet Spread: 1 1/2-2 feet

Spacing: 12-24 inches

Sunlight: 6+ hrs. direct sun

Water Requirements: Average, drought tolerant

Soil Quality: Average Soil Chemistry: 5.5-6.2

Fertilize: all purpose in early spring

Growth Rate: Medium

Bloom time: Early summer-mid fall Attracts: Butterflies, can attract hummingbirds Critter Resistant: Rabbit

Critter Attractant: No Pruning: Deadhead, cut back if necessary to encourage more blooms

Pests: Mallow flea beetle, capsid beetle, caterpillars, two-spotted mites, Japanese beetle, slugs, stalk borer

Diseases: Leaf spot, rust, anthracnose, crown gall, Pythium root rot

Reseeds: Yes

Propagation: Seed only

Garden Style: English cottage, eclectic

Companions: Daylily, shasta daisy, coreopsis

https://www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=MALZE