The cold season is approaching and nature is preparing for winter. But even in late autumn and winter nature continues to offer us precious plants. In our latitudes among these plants there is also Santa Barbara grass, also known as winter cress. The plant belongs to the cruciferous family and therefore has the typical ingredients of cruciferous vegetables. The plant can be used for both culinary and medicinal purposes.
The plant usually grows as a biennial and may resemble a small bush due to its branching habit. Depending on the location, Barbara grass can reach a height of up to 100 cm. In the second year, in spring, the striking yellow flowers appear. At the base we find a rosette of leaves and the leaves grow alternately on the stem. The leaves on the stem almost resemble a small oak leaf; they are egg-shaped and slightly toothed. The stem is smooth, angular and glabrous. From May to July the plant attracts attention with its numerous yellow racemose inflorescences. Winter cress loves sunny or semi-shaded places on clayey, nutrient-rich soil. Since Santa Barbara grass is a relatively undemanding plant that spreads quickly and easily, it can now be found almost everywhere in the world. Wintercress is often found in meadows, on embankments, along roadsides and in wasteland. The seeds of the plant are contained in pods about 3 cm long and ripen in August.
Barbarakraut in Wildkräuter magazine
Even in winter you can find many edible things in nature. So that you know exactly which seasonal recipes and home remedies you can currently make with the fantastic wild herbs, in the current magazine you will find useful tips and valuable tips for creating recipes and home remedies or ointments for the respective season. In the current winter edition (Magazine 8) there is a detailed article about the Barbarakraut. THE Magazine of the Cantina delle Erbe (available here) is available individually or as a subscription in our herbalist’s shop www.die-moderne-Kräuterhexe.de available.
Barbara herb in natural medicine
Barbara’s herb is best known as a blood purifying herb with wound healing properties. It is said to have been used as a wound herb as early as the Middle Ages. These properties can be attributed to ingredients such as essential oils, saponins and flavonoids, as well as glucosinolates. Furthermore, the bitter substances contained in it are said to stimulate digestive activity and support the function of the liver and gallbladder. Barbara herb is therefore also used in detoxifying and cleansing treatments. Barbara herb is also used as a herbal tea to strengthen the immune system and prevent colds. The herb is also used to rebalance the acid-base balance and can therefore also be drunk during alkaline fasting. For external use, tinctures, infusions and poultices can be prepared from the herb.
Use in the kitchen
The Barbara herb is particularly valued for its high vitamin content. So the winter watercress is rich Vitamin C AND Vitamin A. We recommend consuming young leaves and small, fresh flower buds. They work well in a salad, as a vegetable, similar Spinachor in a herbal spread. The flowers have a spicy, slightly peppery taste, typical of cruciferous vegetables. Whether to decorate salads, soups or on bread: the flowers are tasty and, thanks to the glycosides of mustard oil, contribute to health.
The seeds can also be used in cooking. These can be ground/crushed and used as a spice. From seeds, in turn, we can sprouts Pull it and enjoy it like a nutrient bomb. These are very similar to the sprouts of the watercress. The great thing is that we can still eat Santa Barbara grass not only in the summer, but also in the winter after the first snow. Since it is a hardy plant, the name “wintercress” is understandable. Because of the vitamin C, it is recommended to eat the herb unheated, as vitamin C decomposes at higher temperatures. So the herb can be used as a Pesto or even in a spicy one Smoothie be processed. When you collect leaves, make sure they are not contaminated. It is also advisable to use young shoots and rosette leaves, as older leaves can quickly take on a bitter taste. You can also grow Barbara weed yourself.
Plant Barbara grass yourself
Barbara grass can be planted in pots in the garden or on the balcony. It can be sown both in summer, from June to September, and in spring, from March to April. Depending on the sowing period, wintercress can be used in both winter and summer. Wintercress loves a sunny to partially shaded location in nutrient-rich soil. Sufficient distance between plants should be maintained. About 20-30 cm should be enough. When sowing the seeds are only lightly pressed into the soil, as Barbara grass is a light germinating plant. The soil must be kept moist after planting. There is also the option of growing young plants indoors and then transplanting them outdoors later. But this does not necessarily have to be the case, as Barbara grass is rather undemanding. However, if the plant grows in a very dry and sunny place, the leaves may have a more bitter taste; a partially shaded location helps produce a more delicate flavor. By the way, there are seeds here at Magic Garden Seeds. With the Discount code COLLARE CELLAR10 save 10% on your entire cart. Advertising.
Don’t forget about harvest times
So that in the future you do not miss any moment of harvesting local wild herbs, we have our own Seasonal calendar of wild herbs (available here) developed. Here you can see a month-by-month overview of the most important wild herbs ready to be harvested. By the way, our large format seasonal calendar can be used again every year. We designed it as a permanent calendar. Our book»With wild herbs and medicinal plants all year round“(available here) in our small herbalist’s shop www.die-moderne-Kräuterhexe.de In this 160-page book we present the most important wild herbs and local medicinal plants and explain when and where they can be collected and used. There are always recommendations for use in the medicine cabinet and kitchen. You will also receive the book and calendar in one set. Come to our offers Here
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