Plant the seeds in seed trays filled with potting soil and cover them with a very light layer of soil. To ready the soil, you need to fertilize it and remove any and all vegetation so that the plants can grow properly. See more ideas about Milk thistle, Thistle, Herbalism. A friend of mine takes milk thistle capsules for her liver, but I'd never thought of finding it in nature. If growing milk thistle for herbal purposes, you can also plant it indoors. Milk thistle should be grown in loamy or sandy soil. The milk thistle's seeds can be planted in seed trays filled with potting soil, and then covered with a light layer of soil. Since the plant is resilient, there is no soil preference for growing milk thistle. It is also not native to North America and considered highly invasive. Milk thistle is a Mediterranean plant in the daisy family that is characterized by tufts of purple flower heads surrounded by a halo of protective thorns. Maintain lightly damp soil (not wet) AND temperatures around 70°F (21°C) until the seeds have germinated. Milk thistle grows not 200 feet from my front door, in an empty lot across the street. Keep reading for information about planting milk thistle in gardens, as well as combating milk thistle invasiveness. Jennifer Lesser is a New Jersey-based freelance writer specializing in health and wellness for both humans and their four-legged friends. The milk thistle also happens to be very cold hardy and difficult to eradicate once its established thanks to its deep taproots and dense foliage. Be sure to space each hole about three feet apart, and you'll only need three or four seeds for each hole. Milk thistle is native to the Mediterranean region and has been used since ancient Greece to treat a variety of liver diseases. However, these plants can be toxic to many animals, so, if it ends up in pastures, it can poison livestock. Milk thistle, a regulated Class A noxious weed, is a toxic, branching winter annual or biennial that grows 2-6 feet tall in disturbed areas, such as pastures, roadsides, ditches, and fencerows. 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Rating Content; Positive: On Mar 10, 2016, palmbob from Acton, CA (Zone 8b) wrote: No experience growing this plant, but we use it commonly in veterinary medicine (and sure it human medicine, too) for treating all sorts of liver maladies- it is not really a medicine, but a nutraceutical product that has supportive actions for the liver, and can be a useful addition to treating most liver diseases. Place the flower heads in a paper bag in a dry place for a week to continue the drying process. The milk thistle plant will grow best in either a sunny or part shade location. The seeds can be harvested and you can cook and consume both the leaves and flower heads. The milk thistle's purple flowers sit on top of spiky heads, and it is also known for its bright green foliage with white marbling (which is what give the plant it's milky moniker). If you wish plants to return the next growing season, they should be at least two zones hardier than your area, to withstand the deep freezing that … Milk thistle is also a known antidote for certain poisonous mushrooms. How to Grow Milk Thistle. Medicinal: Traditional milk thistle extract is made from the seed. To grow milk thistle outdoors, spread the seed directly over the desired area in the spring or fall. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! If you have milk thistle growing near you, you can harvest your own seeds. In some locations, growing milk thistle is actually illegal because of its ability to spread and destroy ecosystems. Members of the Silybum plant genus are hardy annuals or biennials that reach a height of about 1.2 m. They bloom in the summer when they carry purple flowers reminiscent of thistles. Like all thistles, it has sharp prickles to protect it from animals. Milk thistle will grow easily in a variety of soil types, including sandy varieties and heavy clay dirt. It can be found growing in meadows, wood edges and openings, field borders, abandoned fields, pastures and roadsides. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. The hardy milk thistle plant isn't picky when it comes to the type of weather it will grow in. It can be direct seeded or sown in containers and transplanted. Congrats on HOTD! Milk thistles belong to the genus Silybum. Young plants grow as rosettes. deep just after the last frost in a spot that receives full sun. In Feb-March, you can either direct sow milk thistle seeds in your garden OR start the seeds indoors in containers (biodegradable cells or deep plastic cells). Very interesting hub! It looks good both in compositions and growing alone. Many growers of milk thistle will fertilize the soil with both nitrogen and potassium in order to increase the yield of seeds. When growing milk thistle for herbal or medicinal purposes, many gardeners will plant them indoors. Milk thistle seed has a long tradition of use in western herbalism and is typically decocted as milk thistle … Milk thistle is a very decorative plant. Once the seeds are dried, hack at the bag to separate them from the flower head. There are some other species of thistle that are not as invasive, but you'll know it's a milk thistle because of the white markings on its foliage that other native species do not have. Pour a 4- to 6-inch layer of plain water over the soil. Its primary constituent is silymarin, a phytochemical complex researched for a range of therapeutic effects on the liver and blood sugar. It is suggested that milk thistle seeds be sown about 0.1 inches (3 mm) deep at the beginning of spring. Field thistle initially grows in a basal rosette form (circle of leaves originating from one growing … Sep 9, 2016 - Explore Melanie Martin's board "Milk Thistle", followed by 270 people on Pinterest. We supervise to the progress of growing at selected growers from controlled agriculture. You'll need reasonably deep pots to accommodate the plants because they … Use 3-4 seeds for each hole and then thin out the weakest ones when they germinate in 10-20 days. Though it's sometimes considered a weed due to its invasive properties and ability to spread quickly, the milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum) has an array of medicinal benefits. Doctors give trusted answers on uses, effects, side-effects, and cautions: Dr. (monocarpic) thistle growing in much of the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada. For over 20 years we process by our own development breed varieties fruit of milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner), which are legally protected. A single plant can produce over 6,000 seeds that can remain viable for 9 years and germinate at any temperature between 32 F. and 86 F. (0-30 C.). By using The Spruce, you accept our. The name "milk thistle" derives from two features of the leaves: they are mottled with splashes of white and they contain a milky sap. The seeds are sown in April, directly into the ground, at 2-3 cm … You can even plant the seeds directly in the garden. Western thistle does well in a dry garden setting with good drainage. The dried flower heads may be used for decoration of dry bouquets. Seeds can also be caught in the wind and carried easily on clothes and shoes, spreading it to neighboring land. Milk thistle is generally considered safe when taken by mouth (1, 45). Silybum marianum is an annual in the Asteraceae family that grows three to seven feet tall with lettuce-like leaves and spikey, purple flowers.The plant has been used for centuries as a food and for its healthful properties. Being Grown in Containers . For this reason, you should really think twice before planting milk thistle in your garden, and check with your local government to see if it is even legal. Sign up for our newsletter. Milk thistle prefers full light exposure, but can grow well under light shade. While safe for humans to eat, milk thistle is considered toxic to livestock, which is bad, as it often grows in pastures and is hard to get rid of. These plants behave and spread much like weeds, which means they can quickly overtake any other plants nearby and absorb all of the space and nutrients. The milk thistle plant has a long history in alternative medicine and has been studied many times for possible medical applications. Here are some tips for planting milk thistle in gardens: You can grow milk thistle in gardens with most types of soil, even soil that is very poor. Milk thistle (also called silybum milk thistle) is a tricky plant. Here are some tips for planting milk thistle in gardens: You can grow milk thistle in gardens with most types of soil, even soil … Milk thistle is an annual or biennial herb in the thistle group of the aster family. The History of Milk Thistle. 2. Most notably, this tall, thorny herb with spiky flowers has been prized for centuries for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties. Some of its close relatives include aster, daisy, dandelion, sunflower and ragweed. Plant them in combination with other xeriscape plants that add contrasting color and softer textures, like yarrow or lavender cotton. Prized for its medicinal properties, it is also considered highly invasive and is being targeted for eradication in some areas. All parts of these tall and thorny biennial flowering plants can be eaten. Milk thistle is considered very easy to grow and can tolerate most conditions, but this means it is also extremely invasive. 2. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. The flowers are most commonly harvested for their seeds. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. You can also cook and eat the leaves and flower heads. Guide to Growing Milk Thistle, Ivory Thistle and Holy Thistle. Silybum marianum (L) Milk thistle is a easy growing and gorgeous plant to grow with many fab applications contains silymarin, a chemical component known to improve liver health, earning the plant its status as a “liver tonic.” If you want to produce your own silymarin, milk thistle growing … Most people consider milk thistle a pesky weed because it can grow tall and thorny, making it hard to even get near. The plant is an antioxidant that has been shown to protect cells from damage, and it also contains the active ingredient silymarin, which is used to treat liver and gallbladder issues. Growing in pots may stifle milk thistle plants' aggressive growth habit and prevent them from overwhelming your garden. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) contains silymarin, a chemical component known to improve liver health, earning the plant its status as a “liver tonic.” If you want to produce your own silymarin, milk thistle growing conditions are very forgiving. This also helps prevent the plant from taking over the entire garden. This also helps prevent the plant from taking over the entire garden. Growing Guidelines. The flower heads can be cut with scissors when they're young, and then either boiled or steamed until they're tender enough to eat. Several other names have been used for the plant, including holy thistle, St. Mary thistle and Our Lady’s thistle. Growing in Containers When growing milk thistle for herbal or medicinal purposes, many gardeners will plant them indoors. Learn how to grow biennial milk thistle from seed: direct-sowing, germination, light and soil requirements, spacing, and harvesting for fresh use or seeds. This will not only enhance the overall appearance of the plant but will also help prevent the dispersal of seeds via the wind. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Regular pruning is not required, but flower stems may be removed to keep foliage effect. Lift the thistle back out and tap the stem against the container to remove any excess. Place the tray in an area that stays at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and water the soil daily until … The milk thistle's seeds can be planted in seed trays filled with potting soil, and then covered with a light layer of soil. Unlike many other edible plants, the milk thistle's seeds can remain viable for many years--even up to a decade after harvesting. Instead of planting directly in the ground, opt to grow milk thistle in containers. You'll need to check if you can grow it in your region legally and weigh up the plants pros and cons before deciding to grow it. Plant native thistles for the … Pick a sunny to partly-sunny spot. Click here for information about planting milk thistle in gardens, as well as combating milk thistle invasiveness. Native to the Mediterranean, it now can be found throughout the world including (but not limited to) Europe, England, Africa, Asia, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Jun 2, 2016 - Milk thistle growing instruction & requirement Milk thistle info: climate, zone, growth speed, water, light, planting season & colors Sow seeds outdoors or in an unheated greenhouse in the fall or winter for germination in early spring. The milk thistle's seeds should be sown outside about 1/2 inch deep in either March or April for summer flowering. Their seeds can germinate in temperatures ranging anywhere from 32 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and the plant can remain viable for up to ten years. The dried fruit may be used as medicine. As milk thistle is often considered a weed itself, virtually no weed control is needed. The weakest plants can be thinned out after they germinate, which should take about 10 to 20 days. In fact, in studies where high doses were used for long periods, only about 1% of people experienced side effects ( 1 ). They can also grow to be rather large (up to three feet tall and four feet wide), and the flower stalks themselves produce multiple flowers and can reach heights up to five feet. Space each hole 2½-3 feet apart. The tray will need to remain in an area that remains at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and then watered daily until germination occurs. Prized for its medicinal properties, milk thistle is also considered highly invasive and is being targeted for eradication in some areas. Milk thistle seeds only take two weeks to germinate. By just raking the soil about 1'' from the top and spread the seeds around. Insert the cut end of the milk thistle cutting into a rooting hormone. Because the plant is associated with the Virgin Mary, who is reputed to have wept over the plant, it is also called Holy Thistle, Blessed Thistle, Mary Thistle and Lady’s Thistle. Fill the bottom of a plastic bucket with 4 to 6 inches of all-purpose potting soil. Milk Thistle, Silybum Adans, belongs to the sunflower family, native to southern Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor.Growing as high as 5 feet, Milk Thistle has large thorny leaves with striking light-green and white markings and bright pink flowers. Plant the seeds about 1/4″ deep in organic seed starting mix. Silybum Milk Thistle Info. While most people actually consider milk thistle a pesky weed, and it can be quite invasive, its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-viral benefits make it worth keeping around. Sow seeds directly outside (½ inch deep) in March or April for summer flowering and a biennial plant. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) contains silymarin, a chemical component known to improve liver health, earning the plant its status as a “liver tonic.” If you want to produce your own silymarin, milk thistle growing conditions are very forgiving. Although milk thistle is a drought-resistant plant, it will still require water in completely dry conditions, at least until it's established. Plant your seeds ¼ inch (0.5 cm.) Growing in containers is one way to control globe thistle plants when they exhibit invasive qualities. Milk thistle. If you've planted milk thistle to add a little bit of color to your landscape, their top stems can be pruned as soon as its flowers start to die off. These weed-like biennials can produce thousands of seeds from just one plant. Ingestion can cause nitrate poisoning in cattle and sheep. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) — also known as Mary thistle and holy thistle — is a common flowering herb 1, 2 within the Asteraceae family. Since it grows in clumps, it is recommendable to space the plant 12-15 inches (30-38 cm) apart. Put on heavy gloves and protective clothing. Harvest the flower heads just as the flowers start to dry and a white pappus tuft (like on a dandelion) begins to form in its place. Grim on growing milk thistle: Use it as directed on the bottle. If it is, you may be banned from growing it. The Mediterranean native plant is particularly fond of growing in rocky, dry regions. Silymarin can be found in the plant's seeds, which are often used to make extracts or tinctures that can be used medicinally. The seeds can be stored in an air-tight container. Milk thistle is a flowering plant that belongs to the Daisy family. Usual daily dose is 12 to 15 g of whole or powdered fruit or 200 to 420 mg of milk thistle. 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