Friends of organic gardening and fans of natural medicinal plants can hardly avoid field horsetail. But before you plant the plant, also known as horsetail, in your garden, you should think carefully about it. Once planted, you won't be able to get rid of field horsetail. Therefore, it is better to grow it in a bucket.
How should you plant field horsetail?
Field horsetail thrives in sunny and shady locations, compacted soils, nutrient-poor soil and tolerates waterlogging. To prevent uncontrolled spread, it should be planted in a container, ideally with firm, loamy soil.
Where does field horsetail grow particularly well?
- Sunny and shady locations
- compacted soils
- nutrient-poor soil
- can tolerate waterlogging
Field horsetail is a location indicator that indicates compacted, moist soils. Horsetail therefore grows equally well in shady and sunny locations.
Field horsetail only feels uncomfortable on loose soils.
Why should you only plant field horsetail in a pot?
Field horsetail is considered by many gardeners to be a very annoying weed that is difficult to control - unfortunately not without good reason. Horsetail spreads via spores and underground runners that reach very deep and can cover many meters.
If you don't prefer to collect field horsetail in nature, it's better to plant it in a pot. The vessel does not have to have drainage holes.
Does horsetail prefer a specific substrate?
Since field horsetail grows best in compacted soil, you are welcome to plant it in firm, loamy soil.
When does field horsetail bloom?
Field horsetail is one of the ferns that generally does not develop flowers. It reproduces via spore spikes, which usually appear in May.
Until when will field horsetail be harvested?
If you want to harvest horsetail for making horsetail manure and horsetail broth or as a natural remedy, collect the herb by July. The stems then become woody and the silica can no longer be released.
How does field horsetail reproduce?
Field horsetail reproduces via spores that grow on ears of corn. They are spread throughout the garden by the wind. In addition, propagation occurs via underground side shoots.
Is field horsetail hardy?
Since the roots run up to two meters deep in the ground, horsetail can survive even the coldest winters. Even if you grow field horsetail in a bucket, winter protection is not necessary.
Tip
When you collect field horsetail in the wild, make sure that you only collect green parts. All parts of the plant with a brown color can be poisonous. Do not confuse horsetail with the very similar but poisonous swamp horsetail, which is usually found near bodies of water and damp depressions.
