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 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
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