A.Vogel: Extras for you >How to cultivate your own medicinal plants

Sowing in a pot.

When they have several leafs and measure 10 to 20 cm in height, the plants can be transplanted into the ground

When pollen forms typical yellow crowns on the majority of the main flowers, harvest can begin at A.Vogel.

When there is no more sap and the stem is brown, you can cut and dry the floral heads.

How to cultivate your own medicinal plants

It is easy to cultivate your own medicinal plants; there is no need for advanced concepts of gardening to enjoy the pleasure of watching them grow. Andreas Ryser, culture superintendent at A.Vogel/Bioforce, takes the example of the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Alfred Vogel's favorite plant, to explain how to grow a medicinal plant with a minimum of efforts:

"Lay out the seeds in a pot or tray and cover to them with potting soil. In general, one counts a double thickness of soil of that of the seeds. Some seeds must be covered with a very thin layer of soil to let some light through as the plant cannot germinate in darkness.

Keep the pot damp, at a temperature of approximately 20° C. The seedlings can be repotted as soon as that they reached the stage of first leaf. The majority of the plants are part of the dicotyledones group. These species initially form two, usually round-shaped, embryonic leafs called cotyledons, before producing the true leafs. It is when those true leafs appear that the seedlings can be repotted.

When the young plants have several leafs and measure 10 to 20 cm in height, they can be transplanted into the ground. Before doing so, make sure there is no longer any risk of frost. The ground should not be too wet. Stagnant moisture make many plants, including Echinacea, more sensitive to cryptogamic diseases (fungus) and pests.

The red rudbeckie usually flowers on the second year. If the conditions are optimal and the planting is done rather early, it can sometimes flower the first year. When pollen forms typical yellow crowns on the majority of the main flowers, harvest can begin at A. Vogel/Bioforce.

The plant lives several years. As long as it has sufficient space, a foot will keep on growing more stems and flowers each year. When the flowers are withered, you can let some plants go to maturation without cutting them. When there is no more sap and the stem is brown, you can cut and dry the floral heads to detach the seeds and resow them the following year "

We wish you much fun with your cultures!

Andreas Ryser

Your devoted
Andreas Ryser
Culture Superintendent
A.Vogel/Bioforce

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Sowing in a pot. When they have several leafs and measure 10 to 20 cm in height, the plants can be transplanted into the ground When pollen forms typical yellow crowns on the majority of the main flowers, harvest can begin at A.Vogel. When there is no more sap and the stem is brown, you can cut and dry the floral heads.		How to cultivate your own medicinal plants It is easy to cultivate your own medicinal plants; there is no need for advanced concepts of gardening to enjoy the pleasure of watching them grow. Andreas Ryser, culture superintendent at A.Vogel/Bioforce, takes the example of the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Alfred Vogel's favorite plant, to explain how to grow a medicinal plant with a minimum of efforts: "Lay out the seeds in a pot or tray and cover to them with potting soil. In general, one counts a double thickness of soil of that of the seeds. Some seeds must be covered with a very thin layer of soil to let some light through as the plant cannot germinate in darkness. Keep the pot damp, at a temperature of approximately 20° C. The seedlings can be repotted as soon as that they reached the stage of first leaf. The majority of the plants are part of the dicotyledones group. These species initially form two, usually round-shaped, embryonic leafs called cotyledons, before producing the true leafs. It is when those true leafs appear that the seedlings can be repotted. When the young plants have several leafs and measure 10 to 20 cm in height, they can be transplanted into the ground. Before doing so, make sure there is no longer any risk of frost. The ground should not be too wet. Stagnant moisture make many plants, including Echinacea, more sensitive to cryptogamic diseases (fungus) and pests. The red rudbeckie usually flowers on the second year. If the conditions are optimal and the planting is done rather early, it can sometimes flower the first year. When pollen forms typical yellow crowns on the majority of the main flowers, harvest can begin at A. Vogel/Bioforce. The plant lives several years. As long as it has sufficient space, a foot will keep on growing more stems and flowers each year. When the flowers are withered, you can let some plants go to maturation without cutting them. When there is no more sap and the stem is brown, you can cut and dry the floral heads to detach the seeds and resow them the following year " We wish you much fun with your cultures! Your devoted Andreas Ryser Culture Superintendent A.Vogel/Bioforce top