The dainty maiden in the green - in some places also called 'Damascus caraway' or 'Gretchen in the bush' - impresses with its delicately feathered leaves and pretty, delicate flowers. The annual flower is very suitable for colorful summer borders and can be cultivated wonderfully alone or together with other annual summer flowers or perennials. The undemanding youngster also feels very comfortable in the pot or balcony box in the countryside. Your seeds can be used in many different ways.
What can you use virgin seeds for?
The seeds of the maiden in the green can be harvested after flowering when the seed capsules turn brown and burst open. They can be used as a spice in small quantities, used for dry bouquets or saved for sowing next year.
Harvesting and sowing seeds
After flowering, decorative seed capsules develop and begin to ripen around the beginning of August. You can tell when the time is right when the capsules gradually turn brown, dry out and finally - when the optimal time has come - burst open. Since the youngster sows itself very reliably in the countryside, annual spring sowing is actually not necessary. Otherwise, sowing takes place directly outdoors in March / April.
Use seeds as spice
The maiden in the green is closely related to the black cumin and, like this, can be used as a spice. For this purpose you can harvest the seeds and grind them finely or mortar them; their taste is slightly reminiscent of woodruff. But be careful: In contrast to black cumin, the virgin greens contain the alkaloid damascenine, which can only be consumed in small quantities and is not very digestible in excess. For this reason, the plant is classified as less toxic.
Seed heads are suitable for dry bouquets
The seed heads can also – when dried well – be used wonderfully for dry bouquets. For this purpose, from August onwards, cut off the stems with the still unripe, green-brown seed capsules and hang them upside down to dry in a warm and airy place. Combine these with other dried flowers, with wildflowers and grasses particularly suitable. The seed pods - beautifully painted gold or silver - can also be used for an interesting Christmas decoration.
Tip
If you sow the maiden in the countryside, make sure you sow staggered plants, preferably two to three weeks apart - so the beautiful flowers will still bloom in autumn and are a delight to the eyes and heart.
