Please read text!
Plantain Broad Leaf Plantago Major Seed
Packet of 500+ freshly harvested seeds!
This well known medicinal herb is a real must. Makes a great salad particularly the tender smaller leaves.
The large mature leaves are great boiled in stews, steamed or made into tea.
Every parts of the plant, including the seeds and root, is edible and vitamin rich.
Very tasty, and nutritious containing seven flavonoids, beta-carotene, mucilage, dietary fibre, fatty acids linoleic and oleic, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and K, high levels of calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silica, sulphur and zinc.
Everything really? When eaten the aucubin in plantain leaves increases uric acid excretion from the kidneys, and is useful in treating gout.
Got friends who swear by it.
It has a history of use as a food dating back 4,000 years ago in Europe and there is some indication that it was one of the earliest deliberately cultivated crops.
This is not Plantago lanceolate a close relative that has a bit more of a weedy disposition and has long thin leaves. This fellas are large and flat like lettuce or cabbage, perfect for a feed.
It is very productive and easy to grow especially if you keep them nice and moist or sit the pot in a dish of water like I do. They are not as aggressive or invasive like ribwort or lambs tongue can be, and they are easier to kill by just chopping the plant off below ground, quite unlike its other family members, but even so it is a good idea to keep them potted.
They can’t survive here without assistance as it is way too dry and rocky, but in lush moist climates they have been know to take over a bit so definitely keep that in mind.
Known as a healing herb throughout history, and was used by just about every culture, in every part of the world.
Ancient Saxon’s considered it one of their nine sacred herbs and in Gaelic plantain is known as “the healing plant” due to its amazing healing abilities.
Leaves can be shredded, crushed, mashed or just chewed then applied, and are great for soothing insect stings and bites. Awesome for wounds and animal bites too as their antibacterial and antimicrobial action helps prevent infection, while the anti-inflammatory, anti-toxic properties help to relieve pain, burning, and itching. Plantain is useful for nearly all skin complaints. Soothes stings, removes splinters, stops bleeding and prevents infection, and even said to be helpful for psoriosis, eczema and arthritis.
That’s about it I guess?
Grown by me and the Mrs organically, no chems, no nasties, no dramas!!!
