How to Grow Hyssop
Expect the following characteristics from hyssop: Grows to a height of about 60cm/ 24 inches Will be about half as wide as it is tall Has long-pointed oval leaves of a dark green shade Blooms with purple or blueish, white or pinkish flowers from...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Expect the following characteristics from hyssop: Grows to a height of about 60cm/ 24 inches Will be about half as wide as it is tall Has long-pointed oval leaves of a dark green shade Blooms with purple or blueish
The soil should be light, well drained and with a pH of
6.0 (alkaline). ,, Space the seeds about 30cm apart, or thin out the seedlings later. , Hyssop needs minimal care but does appreciate a little manure and mixed fertiliser in late winter to encourage new growth. , To avoid scraggly plants, it is important to trim after it finishes flowering and again in late winter. , While hyssop can withstand very cold temperatures, if subjected to severe winters, hyssop will likely fail to thrive after several years and will need to be replaced. , This is when the flowers are at their best. ,, Some suggestions for use include:
Add the flowers to salads, ice cubes or and use as a garnish; use them in place of violets for sugared/candied flowers Use the leaves in meat dishes, fish dishes and salads; also good in soups, vegetable bakes, fruit salads and with pulses Use as a companion plant.
If grown near cabbages, it may serve as a decoy plant to keep some of the white cabbage butterflies off the cabbages.
Use in potpourri to impart its fragrance; dried leaves and flowers can be used in potpourri.
Make a tea from hyssop for medicinal purposes, such as helping with coughs and improving digestion.
Consult reliable herbal remedy books for directions and contra-indications. , Dig out, divide gently, then replant both the old and the new plants. , Pull off a healthy shoot without a flower, along with some of its heel (the woody section of the plant).
Make a clean cut across the base of the heel and strip off the lower leaves using a sharp and clean knife.
Dip in hormone rooting powder. , Plant it so that the soil reaches almost up to the leaves that have been left on, but leave some stem peeking up.
Keep in a cool spot out of direct sunlight as the cuttings take root.
Mist for the first week or so but don't overdo it.
Expect roots to have formed within a month.
They can then be left to grow as usual or replanted in the garden. -
Step 2: white or pinkish flowers from midsummer to mid-autumn Has a strong aroma (stem
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Step 3: flowers and leaves).
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Step 4: Prepare an area of the ground that gets full sun.
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Step 5: Dampen the soil prior to planting.
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Step 6: Plant hyssop seeds in damp soil in early spring.
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Step 7: Keep watered and weed-free as the plants grow.
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Step 8: Keep trimmed.
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Step 9: In harsh climates
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Step 10: replace after five or so years of growth.
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Step 11: Pick flowers and young flowering tops of hyssop soon after flowering starts.
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Step 12: Pick leaves any time during growth.
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Step 13: Use hyssop as required.
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Step 14: Divide the roots in the spring.
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Step 15: Take stem cuttings from late spring to early autumn (fall).
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Step 16: Plant in well-draining and moist compost enhanced soil (half sand and half compost is ideal) inside a container.
Detailed Guide
The soil should be light, well drained and with a pH of
6.0 (alkaline). ,, Space the seeds about 30cm apart, or thin out the seedlings later. , Hyssop needs minimal care but does appreciate a little manure and mixed fertiliser in late winter to encourage new growth. , To avoid scraggly plants, it is important to trim after it finishes flowering and again in late winter. , While hyssop can withstand very cold temperatures, if subjected to severe winters, hyssop will likely fail to thrive after several years and will need to be replaced. , This is when the flowers are at their best. ,, Some suggestions for use include:
Add the flowers to salads, ice cubes or and use as a garnish; use them in place of violets for sugared/candied flowers Use the leaves in meat dishes, fish dishes and salads; also good in soups, vegetable bakes, fruit salads and with pulses Use as a companion plant.
If grown near cabbages, it may serve as a decoy plant to keep some of the white cabbage butterflies off the cabbages.
Use in potpourri to impart its fragrance; dried leaves and flowers can be used in potpourri.
Make a tea from hyssop for medicinal purposes, such as helping with coughs and improving digestion.
Consult reliable herbal remedy books for directions and contra-indications. , Dig out, divide gently, then replant both the old and the new plants. , Pull off a healthy shoot without a flower, along with some of its heel (the woody section of the plant).
Make a clean cut across the base of the heel and strip off the lower leaves using a sharp and clean knife.
Dip in hormone rooting powder. , Plant it so that the soil reaches almost up to the leaves that have been left on, but leave some stem peeking up.
Keep in a cool spot out of direct sunlight as the cuttings take root.
Mist for the first week or so but don't overdo it.
Expect roots to have formed within a month.
They can then be left to grow as usual or replanted in the garden.
About the Author
Laura Sullivan
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in organization and beyond.
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