How to Grow Wormwood From Seeds
Grown for its finely cut, aromatic, silver-grey foliage, wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) offers contrast for plants with dark green foliage and brightly colored flowers. Wormwood needs full sun and well drained soil. The plants grow about 3 feet tall with a spread of 2 feet, and the species is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 3 to 9. Some cultivars won't survive in zone 3. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Individual small containers with good drainage
- Tray
- Starting medium
- Wormwood seeds
- Water
- Large plastic bag
- Liquid fertilizer
- Trowel
Instructions
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Sowing
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1
Fill the containers to within 1/2 inch of the top with starting medium and place them in the tray.
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2
Moisten the starting medium thoroughly with water. Pour out any water that drains into the tray.
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3
Place the seeds on top of the starting medium. Wormwood seeds need light to germinate. Do not cover them with soil.
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4
Slide the tray of seeds into the plastic bag and place them in a brightly lit area out of direct sunlight.
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5
Check for new seedlings daily. Seeds take 14 to 60 days to germinate. Once seedlings appear, remove them from the plastic bag immediately.
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6
Place the tray of seedlings in a sunny window. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and feed weekly with 1/4 strength liquid fertilizer.
Transplanting
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7
Begin hardening off the young plants a week to 10 days before planting outdoors. Set the tray of seeds in a shady location outdoors for a few hours every day. Gradually increase the amount of sunlight they receive and the length of time spent outdoors.
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8
Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots. Carefully remove the seedling from the container and place it in the hole.
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9
Fill the hole with soil, and firm it with your hands.
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10
Plant the next seedling and each additional seedling 2 feet from the previous plant.
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11
Water thoroughly.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before transplanting them outdoors.
