Health benefits of Borage ~ Plant Care Guide
Borage is a beautiful flowering plant that grows in the wild in the Mediterranean. It is cultivated and used widely throughout Europe for its healing properties and for a nice addition to a salad. Borage is also cultivated in the US, where it is more popular as an herbal supplement rather than a food product. The leaves are robust and have medicinal properties and the topper of the plant is a striking blue star shaped flower. The flowers are edible as well and are often found candied for cake decorations or made into sweet syrups. In Italy it is served as a side dish much like a serving of vegetables.
Borage is from the Boraginaaceae family and has the proper name of Borago officinalis. Borage is also known as the Bee plant and Bee Bread because the blue purplish star shaped flower attracts bees all summer long. Throughout history Borage has been used to treat a multitude of ailments and to improve overall health. The Romans would mix Borage tea and wine prior to combat, most likely to fortify themselves for the battle.
There are multiple health benefits one can get from taking Borage as a herbal supplement. One of the most important nutrients in Borage is essential fatty acids, something our body needs for good health. Essential fatty acids must be ingested from diet. An essential fatty acid deficiency can directly affect mood, internal inflammation and various cellular functions. In order for metabolic processes such as cardiovascular functions to work properly, they depend on the proper levels of essential fatty acids in the body. EFA’s also improve hair and nail growth and appearance. Specifically, Borage has very high levels of GLA, gamma linolenic acid, an important essential fatty acid. Borage is often used to boost GLA deficiencies in children as well to ensure proper growth.
Borage is also packed with other healthy nutrients that are great for the body. Borage is a good herbal supplement for women because it contains high levels of calcium and iron, nutrients many women are deficient in. Potassium, Zinc, B and C Vitamins, and beta carotene are packed into the Borage plant making it very nutritional.
The adrenal glands in our body work very hard all day to prepare our body for fight or flight situations, constantly releasing adrenalin into the body. Adrenal fatigue can occur when the body is overstressed. Borage is used to restore the adrenal glands to their natural balance, which in turn creates a calmer body and mind.
Borage is well known for its soothing qualities and has been used to treat nervous conditions. Its natural sedative effects have been used for lifting the spirits and softening the nervous edge some people experience. Borage works well to ease the depression and mood swings often associated with menopause and menstrual cycles as well and is a nice alternative to traditional prescription medications.
There are many current ongoing studies involving the health benefits of Borage. Borage is currently being researched as a possible treatment for rheumatoid arthritis because of it’s anti inflammatory properties. Because of research like this, Borage is now known to reduce itch and dryness associated with certain skin disorders such as eczema and dermatitis.
Borage can be found in a caplet form, or as a liquid extract of the plant. Borage oil is distilled from the seeds of the plant and used topically or taken internally. It is not recommended to be taken long term internally due to the concentration of alkaloids in Borage that can damage the liver. A typical dose of the caplet or extract form is one to two grams per day. The dried leaves can be brewed into a tea, which has been said to have a refreshing cucumber like flavor.
It is not recommended that Borage be taken long term internally because of the concentration of alkaloids in Borage that can damage the liver. Do not take Borage if you are taking anti-coagulants without discussing it with your doctor first. Nausea, cramping, bloating and headache are side effects that Borage can cause, although they are relatively mild.
See Also
Borage Herbal Medicine ~ Borage Uses, Health Benefits And Side Effects
Borage nutrition facts
Borage Alchemy works
Borage Magick
Ruler: Jupiter and Leo
Type: Herb
Other Names: “Barrach” (Celtic for “man of courage”), tailwort, bee’s bread, andstarflower
Magickal Form: Blossoms, dried leaves
Borage is legendary for its spirit-lifting and courage-inducing properties. Celtic warriors drank wine flavored with borage to give them courage in battle, borage leaves and flowers were eaten for courage by Roman soldiers before they went into battle. Medieval knights wore scraves embroidered with the flowers for the same reason.
For courage, tuck a borage blossom in the pocket before any stressful situation, or drink a tea or glass of wine flavored with borage leaves.
Drinking borage tea is said to increase psychic powers and relieve symptoms of depression. Many of the most noted herbalists throughout history have considered it a very effective anti-depressant for the feeling of elation it induces.
Pliny said that borage-flavored wine was the Nepenthe of Homer, which when drunk brings forgiveness. In Elizabethan England, it was considered to lift melancholy; according to Culpeper, borage expells pensiveness and melancholy, and the candied or jellied flowers comfort the heart and spirits of those who are sick from consumption or from the passions of the heart. Gerard recommended eating this herb in a salad for joy and said that a syrup made of the flowers “purgeth melancholy and quieteth the phreneticke and lunaticke person.”
Place the fresh blossoms on an altar to bring luck and power to your spells. Sprinkle crushed dried leaves around the workplace for inspiration and business expansion. Drink the tea to increase psychic abilities.
Eating the flowers in salads aids courage and cheerfulness and ends melancholy. The flowers sprinkled in the bath are good for courage or for Jovian protection, and a cup of borage tea can help with feelings of vulnerability and disjointedness.
In Hoodoo, borage flowers in the house help bring about domestic tranquility. Borage flowers may be used alone or mixed with blue-flowered Corn Flowers, Periwinkle, Rosemary, or Forget-Me-Not. Steep the flowers to make a tea. You can also add this tea to a floor wash for a peaceful home.
You can also sprinkle it at the 4 corners of the property, the 4 corners of the house, the 4 corners of each room, and the 4 corners of the kitchen table, to restore harmony and love to the family.
Place a pinch of dried Borage flowers in each corner of a room where family fights have occurred, with a fifth pinch under the rug at the center of the room.
Because of its connections to Jupiter, this herb is associated with the Hierophant in the tarot deck.
From: Encyclopedia of Magickal Ingredients
Starflower ~ Borage Plant Care Guide @ Auntie Dogma’s
Tip! Borage can be planted now in Northern Hemisphere 🙂
Cinnamon and Honey’s healing properties
(NaturalNews) On January 17, 1995, an article written by Beatrice Dexter about the benefits of honey and cinnamon powder, appeared in The Weekly World News.
Please allow me to preface this article with a bit of information unbeknown to the writer and virtually everyone else: cinnamon is 26 percent sulfur based and honey is 33 percent sulfur based, making their combination 59 percent sulfur based and the reason why their combination is so effective.
Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot.
Honey will crystallize if it is left in a cool dark place for the long time, but do not mistake this crystallization for it turning into sugar. Honey never will become sugar. If it does crystallize, simply loosen the lid and let the honey jar sit in boiled water, as this will allow the honey to re-liquefy naturally.
It is important to note that you do not put a honey jar in boiling water while still be heated or in a microwave as these will kill the enzymes in the honey.
Obviously, you will never read about this in the mainstream media because they are hookers for BigPharma and could interfere with their drug pushing profits if too many people learned about the effectiveness of sulfur-based remedies.
Today’s science says that even though honey is sweet and when taken in the right dosage as a “medicine”, it will not and does not harm even diabetics.
Ok, all that being said, let’s get to healing qualities of the sulfur-based cinnamon/honey combination as researched by Western scientists, who by the way, are clueless about the sulfur effectiveness or the fact that cinnamon and honey are sulfur based:
HEART DISEASE
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder and apply it on bread instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and could prevent a heart attack. If someone already had a heart attack and you take this combination, your next heart attack may never happen. The regular use of this combination relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heartbeat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as one ages, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; the cinnamon and honey combination revitalizes the arteries and veins.
ARTHRITIS
Arthritis patients should take, twice a day (morning and night), a cup of hot water with two tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder. When taken regularly, even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a research project conducted at Copenhagen University, it was found that when doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon of honey and a half-teaspoon of cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week 73 out of the 200 tested were totally relieved of pain. Within a month, most all of the people who had trouble walking or moving around because of their arthritis could walk without pain.
BLADDER INFECTIONS
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It will destroy the germs in the bladder.
CHOLESTEROL
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of cinnamon powder mixed in 16 ounces of water were found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, when taken three times a day, chronic cholesterol is cured. The scientists also found that pure honey taken with food on a daily basis relieves complaints of cholesterol.
COLDS
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon of lukewarm honey with one quarter of a spoonful for cinnamon powder daily for three days as this procedure will cure most chronic coughs, colds, and will clear the sinuses.
UPSET STOMACH
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers for its roots.
GAS
According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that when honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.
IMMUNE SYSTEM
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks. The scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in larger amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles, where the DNA is contained, to fight bacterial and viral diseases.
INDIGESTION
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food is eaten relieves acidity and aids in the digestion of the heaviest of meals.
INFLUENZA
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural “ingredient”, which kills the flu germs and will prevent the person from getting the flu. (I ain’t no learned scientist but I do know that the natural “ingredient” is sulfur and that those that take the organic sulfur crystals never get the flu).
LONGEVITY
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Use four teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of boiling water to make the tea. Drink one quarter of a cup three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and delays aging. Life spans increase and even those in their 90s plus, will have the energy of someone half their age. Allow me to inject some humor here: I play in two senior softball leagues. One of the guys, who is 87 asks me if the sulfur crystals are good for erectile dysfunction. I tell him that they are but they must be taken twice a day. About two weeks later I ask him if he is taking the crystals. He says he is. I then ask him if he is taking them twice a day. He says he is taking them once a day. I reminded him that their utmost effectiveness is by taking them twice a day. He says that he knows that but his wife can’t handle it when he takes them twice a day.
RASPY OR SORE THROAT
When the throat has a tickle or is raspy, take one tablespoon of honey and sip it until it is finished. Repeat this every three hours until the throat is without symptoms.
PIMPLES
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon power paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it off the next morning with warm water. When done for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root (of course, eliminating sugar from the diet couldn’t hurt).
SKIN INFECTIONS
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts to cure eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.
WEIGHT LOSS
In the morning and one half hour before breakfast and on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. When taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.
CANCER
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon power three times a day for one month.
FATIGUE
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert and flexible. A Dr. Milton, who apparently does not have a first name, has done research showing that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, even when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, when taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M., the vitality of the body increases within a week.
BAD BREATH
Gargling with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water first thing in the morning will keep the breath fresh all day.
HEARING LOSS
Allegedly, daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing.
TOOTHACHE
Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply it to the aching tooth three times a day until the ache is gone.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure and its accompanying symptoms of chest pain and dizziness disappeared in many patients’ just weeks after an Italian researcher gave them regular doses of honey and cinnamon. Blood pressure improved and all 137 subjects felt better after a few weeks.
REGARDING CINNAMON
The cinnamon powder that you get in the super markets could very well be sawdust that has been colored and artificially flavored. I think it is better to get the bark and powder it yourself or but it from a reputable natural food store. Most spices are irradiated. This is supposedly done to eradicate bacteria, but spices are generally excellent bactericides so the irradiation is merely a way of destroying the precious properties of spices. Non-irradiated spices are available from most high-end health foods stores. Cinnamon can be confused for cassia and in fact many powdered forms use cassia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassia). It is also known as “bastard cinnamon”. True cinnamon is also known as “Ceylon” cinnamon. There are other variants such as Indonesian and Vietnamese so avoid anything that is from these countries. Specifically ask for Ceylon Cinnamon. Cinnamomum zeylanicum is the botanical name for the purest and most potent form of cinnamon.
Not long ago I wrote an article for naturalnews on the 21 Reasons To Try Organic Sulfur Crystals. See if you notice the similarities in benefits.
1. Organic sulfur is not a drug or prescription medicine, but rather a nutrient that the body is deprived of.
2. It increases enzyme production within the glands of the body, substantially increasing resistance to illness.
3. It increases flexibility in the tissues within the body and increases blood circulation.
4. It reduces muscle and joint inflammation, promotes healing in the muscles and joints and prevents them from becoming sore. To the degree there is soreness, recovery and return to normality is quickened. Athletes, in particular, benefit from this as the intake of OS dramatically increases their recovery time.
5. It eliminates “free radicals” in the body. Allergies to pollens ad certain foods can be eliminated or reduced by its use.
6. It promotes healthy, increased growth of hair and fingernails.
7. Because of the oxygenation of the cells and tissues that the OS facilitates, the body is kept in a constant aerobic environment making it so that cancer cells cannot survive or exist.
8. Studies have shown it can help reverse symptoms of osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
9. It aids in healthy skin production and the reduction of “wrinkles”. It is one of the main ingredients in moisturizing creams.
10. It helps the body properly regulate insulin production. Adequate OS in the diet may reduce the amount of insulin injections.
11. It helps alleviate chronic headaches and migraines. Increased circulation in the brain cells promotes proper blood circulation within the brain. Less pressure and pain result, reducing tendencies for headaches.
12. It helps alleviate emphysema by providing the body with material to manufacture new, healthy cells on lung walls.
13. Because of the ability to make cell walls more permeable. OS causes the body to rapidly release and reduce alcohol “hangover” toxins, removing them as waste from the body. The process quickens recovery time from a “hangover”, often as quickly as 20 minutes.
14. It helps in reducing and often eliminating diverticulitis. Parasites living in the intestines are unable to remain attached to the walls due to the slippery coating that the OS produces. Because of this, hatching parasitic worms are flushed out as well because they cannot attach to the walls.
15. It reduces hypoglycemia in the body because it has made it easier for the body to introduce blood sugar through more permeable cell walls. Less insulin is demanded for the process, resulting in less overuse of the pancreas. Within several months of constant usage, OS can reduce or eliminate hypoglycemia entirely.
16. It helps alleviate PMS. Glandular production is enhanced by OS to have more “normal” levels of production. Acid, enzyme, and hormonal levels are more evenly balanced facilitating reduction of cramps, headaches, and nausea associated with the monthly cycle.
17. It helps promote better kidney function more efficiently. Water retention problems associated with poor kidney function can be alleviated.
18. It can help alleviate eye problems. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of the sulfur crystals in 4 ounces of water and use as eye drops as frequently as you like.
19. OS delivers the essential omega-3 throughout the body and also allows the body to produce vitamin B-12.
20. It has amazingly reversed countless cases of asthma and 18 cases of autism that we know about so far.
21. Last and certainly not least, it eliminates the continued need for Viagra or Cialis by reversing erectile dysfunction.
This is by far the ONLY substance that can remove the poisons from pesticides, heavy metals, radiation, and other toxins. You can find out more by going to www.healthtalkhawaii.com and going to Products and Services.
Oh yeah, the Opti product does not work because they add the synthetic silicon dioxide, whereby all synthetics kill all the benefits.
Aloha!
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039963_cinnamon_honey_healing.html#ixzz2pgFZUlIX
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Discover the wonders of tea tree oil
(NaturalNews) Among the many natural ways to treat infection, tea tree oil is one of the very best. Tea tree oil is an essential oil taken from the leaves of the melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia and New South Wales. It has a wide variety of uses with strong antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Tea tree oil’s antibacterial properties are so effective that it actively attacks and eliminates staff infections, including MRSA.
The tea tree plant has a long history of medicinal use. The aborigines in Australia used tea tree leaves to heal skin infections, wounds, and burns by crushing the leaves and holding them in place with a mud pack.
Tea tree oil effectively treats a variety of conditions. It can be used without a carrier oil, but it is good practice to do a patch test on your skin first, as undiluted tea tree oil can irritate the skin. If the skin is sensitive, then it is necessary to dilute it. A good tea tree oil solution can be made by mixing 5 parts of tea tree oil with 95 parts of water. Please note that tea tree oil should never be taken internally, even in small amounts.
Below are just some of the many ways to effectively use tea tree oil:
Acne: Tea tree oil kills the skin dwelling bacteria that causes acne. Dilute the tea tree oil as directed above and apply to lesions. Another way to apply it is by diluting it with aloe vera gel. To begin with, mix one or two drops to one ounce of the gel.
Boils: Apply undiluted (or diluted if sensitive) tea tree oil directly on the boil with a cotton swab several times a day. Because boils are infectious and can easily spread, make sure to properly dispose of the swab after use, being careful not to touch uninfected areas of your skin.
Athlete’s Foot: Every morning and evening, saturate a cotton ball with tea tree oil (you may need to dilute it) and apply to the affected and surrounding areas. You may want to also apply a tea tree oil enriched moisturizer. Results should be evident in about a week. Tea tree oil is also very effective when treating nail fungal infections.
Oral Thrush and/or Periodontal Disease: Mix one capful of tea tree oil with 12 ounces of water. Swish, gargle, and rinse three times a day. Additionally, when brushing your teeth, you can apply two to three drops to your toothbrush.
Eczema/Psoriasis: It is not advisable to apply undiluted tea tree oil directly, as the affected areas may already be sensitive. Instead, mix 10 drops to 2 tablespoons of olive oil or almond oil and apply directly to the affected areas.
Warts: If the warts are on the feet, apply full strength tea tree oil. (Skin on feet is thicker and less sensitive than other areas.) For other areas of the body, mix a 50/50 solution using water or aloe vera gel. You may need to dilute it further, depending on skin sensitivity.
Insect Bites: Apply full strength to the bite area. Tea tree oil is also an effective insect repellent.
Wound Healing: Moderately apply tea tree oil at a strength of 70 to 100% on the wound at least twice daily.
Lastly, putting a few drops of tea tree oil in bathwater has a relaxing and rejuvenating effect. It will also soothe sore muscles and eliminate persistent body odor.
These are just some of the conditions that tea tree oil treats. Tea tree oil belongs in every natural medicine cabinet.
Sources:
http://www.natural-remedies-review.com/tea-t…
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsuppleme…
http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/article…
About the author
Luella May is a natural health advocate helping people to heal naturally. Luella is in the midst of editing her ebook, “The 8 Invisible Stains of Our Souls” which will be available in the next few months. She partners with Tony Isaacs, who authors of books and articles about natural health including “Cancer’s Natural Enemy” and “Collected Remedies” Luella contributes to The Best Years in Life website for baby boomers and others wishing to avoid prescription drugs and mainstream managed illness and live longer, healthier and happier lives naturally. Luella co-moderates the CureZone “Ask Tony Isaacs” forum as well as the Yahoo Health Group “Oleander Soup” and hosts her own yahoo group focusing on the natural wellbeing of pets ”
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/033072_tea_tree_oil_remedies.html#ixzz2lQUNRnw1
See Also …
Tea Tree Oil @ webmd
Lavender Salt Glow Bath
Lavender Salt Glow Bath or Shower Formula
Lavender’s unmistakable, relaxing aroma may be the most familiar herbal fragrance of all.
Used for centuries, it has never gone out of favor as a gentle sedative and muscle relaxer. It also works as a painkiller, antidepressant, and tonic strengthener for the whole nervous system. To soothe stress and help you cope, turn to lavender.
Salt glows are complete rubdown/massages with Epsom salts followed by a warm water rinse, and they are ideal for exfoliating skin and renewing spirits. Here is an enhanced salt glow formula using relaxing lavender:
Lavender Salt Glow
Grind 1 cup dried lavender buds in a blender or food processor. Add 3 cups Epsom salts, grind until fine. Store in a glass jar, tightly capped. To use, rinse yourself off in the shower, then turn water off. Pour a handful of bath salts into your palm, and massage gently into your skin all over your body (not your face). Use more as needed. Rinse off, towel dry lightly, and moisturize.
Annie B. Bond
Lavender is a beautiful purplish herb that inspires a feeling of calm. Just smelling it can put you into a more peaceful state. But, lavender is more than a pretty flower. This herb has natural healing properties that people have been using for centuries.
Lavender is a component of compounds used for herbal and alternative medicine and aromatherapy. Its sweet essence has made its way into shampoos, oils, and lotions. However, that is not the best way to get its healing benefits. It is best used in tinctures, as an essential oil, in teas, salves and other preparations. Here are ten facts about the natural healing properties of lavender:
1. Lavender oil has antiseptic properties. The oil of lavender is extracted from the actual flower and not the leaves or seeds. It is good for cleaning scrapes and cuts that may contain foreign material. Use lavender oil to clean surfaces in your home to lower your bacterial count.
2. Linalool is an active substance in lavender that heals sores, burns and other wounds. Pain and inflammation are reduced at the site of pain.
3. Lavender reduces anxiety and other nervous conditions. Create a sachet with soothing leaves and tuck it into your drawer or under your pillow. Add essential lavender oil to your bath water for a calming bath. Use water infused with lavender leaves to soothe painful joints and muscles.
4. For headaches, apply lavender oil to a cotton ball or your fingertips and massage slowly into your temples. The smell will relax you as the oil eases your headache.
5. Lavender is used in aromatherapy massage as a muscle relaxant. Massaging the oil into the skin unknots the muscles of the back and reduces a spasm, which can be helpful during a woman’s menstrual cycle.
6. Using lavender in an oil diffuser helps with insomnia. The sweet woody smell of the lavender oil helps you to fall asleep and stay asleep.
7. Lavender has also been used as an expectorant. It breaks up the mucous from nasal and chest congestion that accompanies a cold. It is also useful in remedies for other respiratory conditions.
8. Lavender can be used as a tincture to treat fungal infections.
9. Lavender can be taken as a diluted essence. One or two drops of the essence in a glass of water can be taken internally for many conditions such as depression, hysteria, and fainting.
10. Inhaling lavender oil can help with pain management, especially after surgery.
Lavender is a lot more than just a pretty herb. Its medicinal properties have been known for centuries. Use lavender today to heal everything from headaches to fungal infections and anxiety to insomnia. Before using any type of natural healing therapy instead of or in conjunction with conventional medicines, consult your doctor.
Fragaria Vesca Plant Care Guide
Wild Strawberries
By Mulysa Melco
Wild strawberry, Alpine strawberry, Fragaria vesca
Wild strawberries are an excellent addition to any backyard garden. Also called Frais des bois, or Woodland strawberry, this tiny, intensely fragrant fruit produces from early spring until fall. It is an easy to grow perennial that does not send out runners like standard strawberry plants. Its neat, mounded habit makes an excellent edging plant or groundcover. Wild strawberries can also be grown in hanging baskets, strawberry jars or with flowering annuals in containers. Because the plants produce over a long period, just a few berries ripen on each plant per day, so 3 to 4 dozen plants should be grown to supply a family. Luckily, they don’t take up much space. Like regular strawberry plants, they have dark green, trifoliate leaves and white, five-petaled flowers with a yellow center. There is also a variety with sweet yellow fruits.
Wild Strawberries Growing Conditions
| General Information |
| Scientific name – Fragaria vesca Common name – Alpine strawberry Planting time – Spring Bloom time – Early spring through fall Habitat – Meadows, Woodland edges Uses – Containers, hanging baskets, berry patches, edging |
| Scientific Classification |
| Kingdom – Plantae Division – Magnoliophyta Class – Magnoliopsida Order – Rosales Family -Rosaceae Genus – Fragaria Species – vesca |
| Description |
| Height – 9 inches Spread – 9 inches Habit – Compact mound Texture – Medium Growth rate – Moderate Leaf – Dark green Flower – White Seed – Small, brown |
| Cultivation |
| Light Requirement -Full sun to partial shade Soil – Moist, fertile, well-drained Drought Tolerance – Low Soil salt Tolerance – None |
Grow wild strawberries in full sun to partial shade. In hot climates plant in a location that receives protection from the afternoon sun. They prefer a moist, fertile, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. If your soil contains a lot of clay or drains poorly, amend it with organic matter and plant in hills or in raised beds. Strawberries are not tolerant of salty soil, so avoid planting near roadsides in regions where de-icing salts are used. Plants are hardy in zones 3 to 10. There are several cultivars available, choose those suited to your region.
Wild Strawberries Cultivation
Wild plants are easily started from seed, or can be bought as transplants. Plant the crowns right at ground level. Plants are very easily divided in early spring just as the new growth appears. Lift plants and pull apart the crowns. A one-year old plant can be split into three or four new plants.
Mulch plants with straw to help soil retain moisture and keep fruits clean. Straw is the tradition mulch, and does work well. It also helps keep weeds down, which is important, as strawberries don’t deal well with root competition. Plants benefit from division every two to four years. During warm weather and fruit bearing season, keep strawberries well watered. To feed plants, top-dress the soil with compost at the beginning of the season before mulching. Too much nitrogen will cause excess leaf growth and poor fruit production. During winter in cold climates, mulch plants with straw or loose leaves to keep the ground temperature more even and prevent frost heave.
If slugs and snails are a problem in your garden, put out non-toxic slug bait or traps or use copper strips around the plants. Aphid infestations can be sprayed off with a strong blast of water from the hose. Wild strawberries are less prone to disease than other berries. Small animals do like the fruits however, so chicken wire is sometimes recommended. Companion plants such as mint, alliums and marigolds also seem to help.
Plant Uses
Harvest berries daily during production season. Once ripened, the fruits last for just a day, so check plants often and discard any over-ripe berries. Look for berries that are uniformly bright red and slightly soft, with darkening seeds. Pick off the plant with the stem and cap intact, and collect in shallow containers to prevent bruising. Alpine strawberries are very delicate and should be used within a few hours.
Fruit is really best eaten right off the plant, or immediately after picking with cream, sugar or on cereal. They are a gourmet treat in pie, jam, ice cream, short cake, or dried. However, you’ll need quite a few of the tiny berries. If you can resist eating them all, add your daily cache to a container in the freezer until you have enough to cook with.
In the landscape, alpine strawberries are a lovely edging along a flower-bed or walk. Plant them in a well-traveled part of the yard so they can be picked often.
Whole stems of wild strawberries with the buds and flowers attached have been used in floral arrangement to amazing effect.
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Facts and Info Fragaria Vesca ~ Woodland Strawberry
Fragaria Vesca ~ Woodland Strawberry Herbal remedies using strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
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