How To Plant Osha Root
Native to the Rocky Mountains, osha root (Ligusticum porteri), or bear medicine, is a member of the parsley family. Considered a sacred healing herb by Native Americans, osha root grows to heights of 3-feet tall and produces white flowers on long hollow stalks. The celery-scented seeds of osha root form at the top of the plant. The root of the plant, brown on the outside and yellow on the inside, is highly attractive to bears. If you live within zones 6 through 11, you can plant osha root for your own medicinal purposes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic baggie
- Peat moss
- Perlite
- Osha root seeds
- Starter seed tray
- Sterile potting soil
- Water bottle
- Grow lamp
- Plant-heating pad
Instructions
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1
Fill a plastic baggie half full with a 1:1 ratio of moistened peat moss and Perlite. Drop the osha root seeds in the plastic baggie and seal it tightly. Place the plastic baggie in the refrigerator for approximately two weeks. This method of preparing seeds, known as stratification, is necessary to soften the seed and prepare it for germination.
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2
Fill a starter seed tray with sterile potting soil. Add one osha root seed to each starter pot, buried ½-inch into the soil. Gently pat the soil over top of the seeds. Moisten the soil by spritzing it with a water bottle.
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3
Cover the tray with a plastic lid or piece of plastic wrap. Place the starter tray in a sunny window, maintaining a temperature of 65 degrees F at all times. If this is not possible, place the seed tray under a grow lamp and use a plant-heating pad, set to the appropriate temperature.
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4
Wait for the osha root seeds to sprout (approximately two weeks), keeping the soil moist at all times. Remove the plastic covering from the seed tree once you see evidence of germination. Continue to keep the soil moist as the seedlings begin to grow.
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5
Transplant the osha root seedlings outdoors in the spring. Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil. Space the osha root seedlings a minimum of 24-inches apart. Water the seedlings regularly at a rate of 1 inch of water per week.
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Tips & Warnings
Once your osha root plants are established, collect the seeds that drop in the fall. Repeat the above steps for planting the following year.
Harvest the root of the osha plant by digging it up in the fall. Snip off the leaves when needed.
Do not over-water the seeds or seedlings in the seed tray. A light misting is all that is necessary. Too much water will drown the seeds and inhibit germination. Too much water can also cause root rot in young seedlings.
References
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