Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 09:01 pm
Whether for the production of licorice, to sweeten tea, as a natural and tasty teething aid for babies or as a medicinal herb – licorice is versatile. You don’t necessarily have to buy it, you can also grow it yourself!
Contents
What kind of location does licorice need to thrive?
The licorice feels extremely well in a sunny to semi-shady location in a wind-protected position. Due to its long taproot, it is not suitable for container cultivation. It is better off in a cottage garden or a herb bed, for example.
With what substrate can make friends with the plant?
The substrate plays a decisive role if you want to harvest the roots or runners from the licorice later. The best harvest results are obtained in a substrate with the following characteristics:
- deep
- loamy
- moist
- nutrient-rich
- humus
- not too heavy
- permeable
Buy young plants or rather sow them yourself?
To save time and effort, it is advisable to buy young plants. Sowing often turns out to be extremely tedious and unsuccessful. Do you still want to try sowing? Then consider the following:
Normal germinators
sow directly in the open from May
or preculture from the end of February to March
Those who choose preculture should sow the small seeds in a pot. The seeds are sown between 0.5 and 1 cm deep. If the soil has been kept evenly moist and the sowing pot has been in a warm place of about 20 °C, the seeds will germinate with luck after 7 to 30 days.
When does the licorice flower?
Liquorice blossoms relatively late. As a rule, the flowering period in this country begins around the beginning of August and lasts until October. During the flowering period, violet-blue to creamy-white flowers present themselves, which sit together in a spike-like inflorescence.
When and how to harvest the roots?
You have to wait three years before you can harvest the roots from licorice for the first time. The plant needs this time to develop strong roots. Harvest the secondary roots or stolons in the fall! The taproot is not harvested.
Tips
When planting, make sure to keep a distance of 50 cm between the individual specimens!