Pleasantly fragrant curry herb is becoming increasingly popular, although in the kitchen it does not replace the eponymous spice mixture. It can be grown in a pot on the balcony or windowsill, and in a mild region – in the garden.
Location and soil
Curryweed prefers to be in full sun, but it still does quite well in a partial shade location. The plant likes it warm and dry. The soil should be gravelly to sandy and calcareous. The curry herb does not tolerate waterlogging at all.
Sowing curry herb
Curry herb is relatively easy to grow from seed. It is best to grow the herb on a windowsill or in a heated greenhouse. At about 18 °C, the germination period is about two weeks. In the garden or on the balcony, the young plants may only after the Ice Saints, they are still quite sensitive.
Planting curry herb
As an alternative to sowing, you can also buy curry cabbage as potted plants in a well-stocked nursery. Plant it in the garden, then keep sufficient distance from neighboring plants. At least 30 to 40 centimeters should already be the planting distance. Curry herb grows more in width than in height. This is 20 to 70 centimeters for the adult herb, depending on the species.
Watering and fertilizing
Curryweed is quite frugal and requires few nutrients. Therefore, one fertilization per month is usually sufficient. It is best to use (liquid) herb fertilizer if the curry cabbage is intended for consumption. You should also use water rather sparingly. Curryweed copes better with dryness than with waterlogging, but it should not dry out completely either.
Cutting curry cabbage
If curryweed is not harvested or cut back regularly, the herb will become bare. Therefore, from time to time you should reach for the pruning shears or harvesting knife. By doing so, you will simultaneously promote the branching of the curryweed and it will become nice and bushy. With regular harvesting, separate pruning is usually not necessary.
Curryweed in winter
Curry cabbage is not hardy, it does not like temperatures below + 10 °C very much. Therefore, it is better to overwinter the herb indoors in a cool region. For example, a frost-free greenhouse or an unheated winter garden are suitable.
Curry herb short and sweet:
- perennial woody semi-shrub
- not hardy
- size: 20 to 70 cm high, up to twice as wide
- ideal harvest time just before flowering
- flowering time: between May and September
- yellow flowers, silver-grey leaves
- Habitat: sunny to semi-shady
- Soil: moderately dry to dry, gravelly to sandy
Tips
With its silvery hairy leaves, curryweed is an ornamental in the summer garden.
