Crambe orientalis
| Crambe orientalis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 6.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 4' |
| Width: | 4' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Crambe orientalis
Propagation: Seed - sow March/April in a seedbed outdoors and either thin the plants out or move them to their permanent positions when about 10cm tall[1]. The young plants are very attractive to slugs so some protection will often be needed.
Germination can be slow so it is best to sow the seed in pots in a cold frame[2]. Germination usually takes place in 3 - 26 weeks at 15°c[2]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out into their permanent positions when they are at least 10cm tall.
Division in spring or autumn[3][1]. Dig up the root clump and cut off as many sections as you require, making sure they all have at least one growing point. The larger of these divisions can be planted out straight into their permanent positions, though small ones are best potted up and grown on in a cold frame until they are established.
Root cuttings, 3 - 10 cm long, in spring[4]. These can be planted straight into the open ground or you can pot them up in the greenhouse and plant them out once they are growing strongly.
Cultivation: An easily grown species, succeeding in a good loam and an open sunny position[3]. Prefers a slightly alkaline soil in a position sheltered from strong winds[5]. Tolerates poor soil and some shade[5]. Dislikes acid soils[3]. Prefers a rather dry soil[6].
Plants are hardy to about -20°c[6].
A deep-rooted plant[7], it dislikes root disturbance[2].
Range: Europe - E. Mediterranean to W. Asia - Iran.
Habitat: Fields, hills, dry slopes, rocky places and clay soils[8].
Edibility: Leaves - cooked.
Immature flowering stems - raw or cooked and used like broccoli[9][8][10][11].
Root - cooked. It is very thick and can be used as a horseradish substitute[9][10][11].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sanders, Thomas. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge, 1926.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ RHS. The Garden Volume 111. Royal Horticultural Society, 1986.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.