The ice herb Mesembryanthemum crystallinum is also called crystal herb or soda herb. The plant originally comes from South Africa, but now also grows on many other coasts, such as Japan, South Australia and California, as it tolerates slightly acidic soil well.
How to care for the Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum (icewort)?
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, also known as iceweed, requires a sunny location, sandy-loamy soil and moderate amounts of water. The edible leaves can be harvested every 3-4 weeks. In winter the plant should be protected from severe frost.
Planting the iceweed correctly
It is best to plant the heat-loving ice herb in a dry and sunny place. You will feel really comfortable there. The soil should be sandy to slightly clayey. With good care, you can harvest the thick leaves about every three to four weeks. They taste spicy and spicy, a little like spinach. Use it to make a crisp, tasty salad or steam the leaves as a vegetable.
Water and fertilize the iceweed properly
The ice herb grows to a height of around 10 to 20 centimeters and requires relatively little water. If you water regularly in small amounts rather than just occasionally in bulk, the iceweed will grow back diligently and you can harvest regularly. If you want to eat the leaves, use fertilizer that is suitable for vegetables, such as well-rotted compost (€41.00 on Amazon).
Propagate the iceweed
You can sow iceweed indoors all year round or outdoors from the end of April or beginning of May. The light germs are only lightly pressed and not covered with soil. You can keep the humidity constant for the seeds by using a mini greenhouse or covering them with a glass plate. So you can expect your first small harvest after just a few weeks.
The ice weed in winter
The ice herb tolerates light frost and can overwinter well protected in the garden in a mild area. However, it shouldn't get colder there than around -5°C to -10°C. Otherwise, a frost-free winter quarter is recommended.
The most important things in brief:
- easy to maintain
- Leaves edible, as a salad or steamed
- Harvest possible approximately every 3 to 4 weeks
- loves sunny locations
- also tolerates slightly s alty soil
- blooms in late summer
- can only tolerate light frost
- suitable as a houseplant
- only overwinter in the garden under shelter
Tip
If you don't harvest the whole leaves, but only parts of them, then the leaves will grow back and you will get a bountiful harvest.
