Burdock, Watanabe (Arctium lappa), packet of 30 seeds, organic
$2.95
Family: Aster (Asteraceae)
Biennial, overwintering zones 3 to 9, usually grown as a garden annual, 50 days to harvest.
(Watanabe Burdock) Biennial native to temperate Europe and Asia The long, thin, early-maturing roots of Watanabe are the best we’ve ever had for eating. They are smooth textured and sweetly nutritious as a boiled vegetable or scrubbed hard and grated in a ginger and tamari marinade. Sow seed in spring directly in regular garden soil, thin to 6 inches apart and harvest that first year–like carrots.
30 seeds/pkt., Certified Organically Grown
Out of stock
Question
laura madeline –
Does Burdock need to be planted in the sun?
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Richo Cech –
yes, sun to part shade is fine. r
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adolphhernandez –
Do you need to cold or warm stratify the seeds before sowing?
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Richo Cech –
hello, thanks for writing. we find that they work fine like a standard garden veggie–just plant the seeds right from the packet into a shallow furrow in the spring garden, barely cover, tamp and keep moist. richo
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Question
Lila McClellan –
what is the height and width of mature Watanabe Burdock plants?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Lila, By this you mean the second-year plants in seed stage? That would be 4 feet tall and equally as wide. But for all practical purposes most people dig them during first year of growth and they are more compact at that time. Richo
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Question
subscribe4clo (verified owner) –
Do the seeds need to be stratified?
or can I plant them now? (end of september) in zone 9a/b – SoCal
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Admin Richo Cech –
Burdock is grown as an annual for root production. You can plant the seeds almost anytime in a Z 9. Burdock is a simple warm soil germinator—it doesn’t need stratification. richo
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Admin Richo Cech –
If digging is not your thing, take an old bale of wet hay and knock together four 1 x 4s like an empty-bottomed flat to fit right on top of the hay bale. Then fill this with garden soil and plant your burdock seeds in there. They will germinate and send their roots down into the hay. To harvest, remove the boards and pull apart the hay to reveal perfectly formed and tender roots.
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codakine42 –
That is an awesome method!! I’ve never heard of anyone giving that as advice before!!
So I’m thinking about the old wet bales of hay though, wouldn’t that invite certain mold or bacteria to have open access to the roots?
I’ve been wanting to grow burdock and other veggies with big tap roots. But don’t have many good areas for them.
Sorry I didn’t know how to make A reply to your comment
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi there, the use of straw and hay for mulch is very common and yes, there is a healthy presence of bacteria and fungi (not mold). I wouldn’t recommend this “hay bale garden” if I hadn’t tried it myself, it is a good approach, I recommend you try it, the roots come out nice and clean and edible. richo
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eilyn –
Richo I hear often that hay has pesticides and bugs. For example they shouldn’t be used for chickens because they get some form of fleas. Have you heard this? I am in zone 10b. I am so excited you have burdock. Thanks all the information I’ve read is great.
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Richo Cech –
Hello Eilyn,
It is best to use organically certified hay or straw. I have not heard about hay carrying chicken fleas.
Richo
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Sheila Culver –
Can the burdock leave be used as a vegetable ? Thanks.
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Richo Cech –
hi sheila, I have used burdock leaf very successfully for poulticing and have talked to people who dry it, grind it and make it into capsules and such. One thing to know is its very bitter, but not toxic–its edible if not tasty. richo
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Sheila Culver –
Thanks Richo. Yes, I take supplement have Burdock power(from root ?) in it as well. So if I harvest the root, is that mean that plant is destroyed and I have to replant a new seedling ?
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Richo Cech –
yup, you don’t really want to let it go two years, it gets huge and makes a lot of burrs. better to dig the root in first year like a carrot (only bigger). r
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