Ever thought of growing marshmallows at home? I don’t mean the creamy treats that you simply put in your cocoa , but the marshmallow plant that blooms with showy white flowers throughout the summer.
Your kids won’t be as excited about the marshmallow plant as they’re the dessert, but Althaea officinalis once grew in many backyard gardens, and it’s worth having around.
The roots of this plant contain mucilage, which may be wont to thicken recipes, kind of like gelatin. Marshmallow also has medicinal properties. Of course, you’ll also eat the plant, and it had been the inspiration for the sweet treat we all know today.
Marshmallow may be a perennial angiosperm that grows in damp areas. It stands 3-4 feet high with a branched stem. The leaves are soft and hairy with three divisions, kind of sort of a maple leaf.
Along the upper stalk, beautiful flowers appear. The flowers have five heart-shaped petals that home in many colors, from white to pink or mauve. These flowers appear in late summer from July to September.
For centuries, it grew wild in sunny, cool locations, like along the sides of lakes or marshlands. you’ll still find it wild or naturalized in some places.
Planting Marshmallows
Planting marshmallow plants in your garden takes a touch more consideration than other plants. Take a glance at what you would like to understand.
Growing Zones
The marshmallow plant grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-9.
Sun Requirements
You can place these plants in either partial shade or full sun.
Soil Requirements
Wherever you plant, confirm it’s a moist spot. it’s called “marsh” mallow in any case . That doesn’t mean the plant wants to be underwater or during a thick swamp, but it does like continuously moist soil.
Making the proper soil for your plants isn’t too tricky. Marshmallow plants like better to be growing in sandy, moist soil. It doesn’t like soil that dries out too fast, so you’ll want to feature compost to your ground if it doesn’t retain moisture well.
Marshmallow plants don’t care about the pH level of the soil, which makes it easier for gardeners to make the proper dirt.
Growing Marshmallow From Seeds
Most gardeners prefer to grow marshmallows from seeds since nurseries rarely sell these seedlings. to start out the plants from seeds, sow them in damp sphagnum inside a bag and put the seeds within the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks.
Doing this might sound weird, but it’s necessary to encourage germination once you plant the seeds into the garden. It’s a process called stratification.
When to Plant
If you reside in a neighborhood with mild winters, you’ll plant the seeds within the fall and expect the blossoms to seem next summer. you ought to still use the refrigerator process if you reside in a neighborhood with harsh winters.
In the spring, plant the seeds into your garden as soon because the ground are often worked. Typically, decide to plant the seeds into the garden 2-3 weeks before the last frost date.
Once planted, make certain to stay the soil moist until the seeds germinate. Marshmallow seeds take time to germinate, typically several weeks. Don’t get frustrated; the seeds will eventually sprout.
Spacing
Sow the seeds into the bottom in groups of 5-6, but confirm you don’t place them too deeply into the bottom . Each group of seeds should be set 18-24 inches apart.
Growing Marshmallows From Cuttings
Another option is to grow this plant from root divisions or cuttings. you’ll take cuttings from the roots in summer, goodbye as you retain the bottom damp. you furthermore may can divide the roots within the fall after the plant dies backtrack .
Take a pointy shape or garden knife and slice down through the basis mass. Then, take a neighborhood of the roots to plant elsewhere in your garden or share together with your friends. confirm to fill the space where you removed the roots with fertile soil.
Growing Marshmallow in Containers
Theoretically, you’ll grow marshmallow plants in containers, but since these are perennials, they are doing best within the ground. Most gardeners who give this a try report that it’s not nearly as successful as they hoped.
Caring for Marshmallow
Since marshmallow plants are perennials, the important key’s taking care of them for the primary 2-3 years of life. Once well-established, their care is often reduced, and their sturdiness will keep them surviving for years to return.
Watering Marshmallow Plants
These plants got to stay well-watered for the primary year to permit the plants to become established. decide to water weekly, supplying a minimum of 1-2 inches of water per week, minimum.
Keeping a rain gage nearby helps you identify what proportion water your plants still need. While marshmallow plants love moist soil, they don’t like standing water, so you would like to steer an in depth line.
Mulching Around Plants
It’s best to mulch well round the plants, typically with 3-4 inches of mulch. Doing so helps to discourage the expansion of weeds which may compete for nutrients from the soil.
Also, applying mulch around your plants helps the soil to retain moisture. meaning you don’t got to water your plants as often, which is great because we all know that these plants love the moist ground.
Fertilizing The Plants
You don’t get to stress about fertilizing these plants too often. once you plant the seeds or seedlings into your garden, you ought to consider adding compost to the soil to feature vital nutrients needed for growth.
Otherwise, you’ll add a general 10-10-10 organic to your garden during the blooming months within the summer. this is often the sole time that the plant needs a lift . confirm to not add any fertilizers near the autumn because the plants are heading towards their dormancy period.
Common Pests Diseases for Marshmallow Plants
One advantage of growing marshmallow plants is that the majority of pests leave them alone. the likelihood is that you won’t have any pest problems to handle, but here’s what to observe for.
Flea Beetles
Flea beetles are one of the few pests which may bother marshmallow plants, but it is often hard to identify them. They’re tiny, measuring between 1/16 to 1/8 of an in. . Flea beetles are black, brown, or maybe metallic grey.
Adult flea beetles become active within the early spring. They lay eggs in small holes, and therefore the larvae prey on the roots of the plants. You’ll eventually notice the damage caused by these pests once they start to go away small, irregular holes within the leaves. Most of the holes are tiny.
Pay the closest attention within the spring. Check plants regularly for damage and take away unspecified debris which may protect the beetles. you’ll use row covers and screens to stay the beetles out when the seedlings are little. an alternative choice is to use a pesticide labeled for treating flea beetles.
Rust
Marshmallow may be a cousin to the hollyhocks family, which is susceptible to rust. Common rust may be a fungal disease that attacks the spread of plants.
The symptoms generally start to seem on the surfaces of the lower leaves. At first, this disease appears as white, raised spots on the underside of leaves and therefore the stem. Soon, these spots become covered with reddish-orange spores. Over time, leaf pustules turn yellow-green and eventually black.
To help conquer rust infections, pick off and take away all infected leaves and take away all fallen debris round the plant regularly. Avoid watering overhead, and apply copper sprays or a sulfur powder. you furthermore may can use a broad-spectrum bio-fungicide that uses Bacillus subtillis as how to combat the rust infection.
Harvesting and Using Marshmallow Plants
Harvest the leaves after flowering, and confirm to dry them thoroughly. If you would like to reap the roots, do so in late fall before the bottom starts to freeze. confirm to wash the roots of fibers and cork and chop the roots into 1/2 inch pieces. Then, dry the pieces immediately.
Wait until the 2nd or 3rd year of growing marshmallow to reap roots. Dried roots are the foremost commonly used parts of this plant. When the plant is in season, the leaves and flowers can either be harvested and eaten fresh or dried for medicinal purposes.
The leaves, flowers, roots, and seeds of the marshmallow plants are edible. The roots are delicious raw, and you’ll also add them to soups and stews as a thickener.
The leaves and flowers are often used an equivalent way, otherwise you can add them to salads and desserts. The plant features a lovely sweet flavor. Try frying the blossoms for a true treat.
Herbalists use this plant to cure dozens of ailments, such as:
- Upset stomach
- Constipation
- Fever
- Acne
- Inflammation
- Cuts
- Bronchial spasms
In particular, the leaves and root make a thick tea that does wonders for sore throats and coughs.
Growing Marshmallow in Your Garden
While it’d not be the foremost common herb, you ought to consider growing marshmallow plants in your garden. These perennials grow back annually with a gorgeous display of flowers within the summer months. Later, you’ll cash in of all the medicinal properties that the plants need to offer.