A fair number of gardeners are not particularly fond of gooseberry. No wonder: this wild weed is difficult to control and multiplies quite heavily via runners and its seeds. Let's take a closer look at the seeds
What do gourd seeds look like and what are they used for?
Giersch seeds are elongated, flattened, wingless and average 3 mm long. They resemble caraway, dill or parsley seeds and are brown to brown-black in color when fully ripe. The seeds are edible, taste spicy and are suitable as a seasoning for sauces, salads, soups and stews.
External characteristics of seeds
The seeds don't look flashy or even spectacular. They are reminiscent of caraway or the seeds of carrot, dill and parsley. Initially they are colored green. When fully ripe they acquire a brown to brown-black color.
They stand upright on the former, umbel-like inflorescences of the greedweed. Each inflorescence has around 100 seeds. They are located in the two-part split fruits. They are elongated, flattened, wingless and average 3 mm long. They often have a narrow, crescent-shaped shape.
When are the seeds ripe?
After the flowering period, which can last from April to September, the seeds of the groundweed ripen. The first seeds are ripe in June. Others do not reach maturity until autumn. Ripe seeds are brown in color.
Edible – a hot spice
The seeds can be eaten both fresh and dried. They taste spicy. The taste is best expressed when the seeds are ground into powder, for example with a mortar. They are suitable for:
- Sauces
- Salads
- Soup
- Stews
Sowing the seeds – this is how it works
You can sow the seeds in spring, summer or autumn. They come into nutrient-poor soil. Attention: They are light germinators! Therefore, they should not be covered with earth, but rather just pressed down. Keep the substrate moist and the seeds will germinate after a few days.
Fight before seeds ripen
If you want to combat goutweed, you should tackle the whole thing before the seeds ripen. Once the seeds are ripe, they are easily dispersed by the wind. The plant reproduces strongly with their help, as it contains a large number of seeds and these tend to self-sow.
Tip
You don't need to buy seeds. You can collect them yourself in mid to late summer. They are ripe as soon as they are brown in color and can be easily separated from the seed head.
