Ginger, Sorrel, Licorice, Black Mustard, Bayberry, Horehound and , Stevia Growing Instuctions
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Kathy Giebelhaus
Posted on: June 7, 1999

I received my order from you a while ago. My plants are ready to go outside now and I’d like to know if I can get some growing instuctions for some of the plants. I have checked the Q&A on your web-page already, but these items I still need some info on. Many thanks if you can assist. The ones I need help with are " ginger, sorrel, licorice, black mustard, bayberry, and horehound. I think horehound is related to mint, in which case would filtered sun, rich soil be appropriate?

Ginger survives out of doors in the winter in zones 9 to 11. It will grow in sun to partial shade. It needs a well-drained, humus rich neutral to alkaline soil and likes high humidity. According to Deni Bown’s book "Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses" it needs a ten month growing period for optimum rhizome production. The older parts of the rhizome are harvested when new shoots appear.

Garden sorrel overwinters outside in zones 4 to 8. It likes moist soil and sun to half shade. Rich soil will make the leaves more succulent and tender. Cool temperatures are required for optimal growth.

Licorice species like deep, rich, slightly alkaline, moist but sandy soils and do best in full sun. Glycyrrhiza glabra in winter hardy in zones 7 to 10, G. uralensis in zones 9 to 10 and G. echinata appears to be hardy in zones 5 to 9.

Black Mustard does best in rich, well-drained soil in full sun.

Bayberry is winter hardy in zones 5 to 9. It grows in well-drained dry to wet, acid, sandy soil in sun to half shade. Each plant bears either male or female flowers, but not usually both. To get at least one bush that bears berries you therefore have to plant several seedlings to make sure that at least one of each sex is present.

Horehound is winterhardy in zones 4 to 8. It tolerates most soils, but does best on well-drained, sandy soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. It needs full sun.

Also, with stevia is full sun on a raised bed with "plant waterers" surrounding it to keep it moist suitable?

I think the plant would love it as long as your raised bed is in a sunny spot. The raised bed will provide it with good drainage and the watering system will provide it with the constant moisture the plant requires.

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