One of the great shames of innovative landscaping is chickweed ’s relegating to the category of unwanted plants . Almost as many masses seek to figure out how to decimate chickweed ( Stellaria media ) as do those who enthusiastically grow , manipulate and utilise it . A hardy flowering one-year that ego - sow freely , chickweed makes a beautiful , low - growing ground cover where few others would flourish . In addition to those chastity , Stellaria media is a tasty , nutritive herbaceous plant that also boast a " stellar " reputation for treating obstinate skin condition .
Step 1
Pick a spot where the chickweed can really diffuse its wing . One of Stellaria media ’s many appeal is its power to grow in shady and normal to moist place , including under trees and shrub or at the radical of tall perennials .
Step 2
In late spring or former summertime , prepare your mouse-ear chickweed plot by tilling in compost or manure . Although chickweed grows in inadequate territory , it ’s always best to get herb off to the best possible start .
Step 3
With a metal rake , remove any widow’s weeds , stones or other junk that might interfere with the mouse ear seedlings ' growth .
Step 4
Make furrows about a half - inch rich with a garden hoe tilt at an angle . Do n’t worry if the course look too even now ; Stellaria media has a way of self - seeding haphazardly in bring home the bacon class .
Step 5
Turn a hosepipe onto its scurvy setting and soak the furrows . Once the water system has drain , sow chickweed seeds thinly along the rows , no more than three seeds per column inch .
Step 6
cover up the furrow with a lean level of topsoil and lightly moisten the dirt with a hosiery fix to all right spray . allow the surface area undisturbed while seedlings establish themselves .
Step 7
get down thinning when the chickweed reaches two to four inches tall . Aim for an ultimate spatial arrangement of about 4 to 6 in between plants .
Tip
Chickweed contains vitamin vitamin C , vitamins B6 and B12 , vitamin D , genus Beta carotene , atomic number 12 , iron and calcium . utilise chickweed raw in salads , steam it like spinach plant or cook and puree as an addition to cream soups . A carrier crude oil infuse with chop chickweed reportedly does wonders for eczema and other dry , peeved skin conditions . shade of chickweed or mouse ear teatime can be used to treat bloating , bladder and liver problems , and overturned stomach .
Warning
If harvest home chickweed from an area other than your own garden , ensure it has n’t been sprayed with pesticide . Harvest mouse eared chickweed by nip off the top several inches of stems , leaves and flowers ( all are eatable ) rather than pulling up by the radical , which would prevent the plant from come back in future year .
