Brassica napus 'Oilseed Rape'

Brassicaceae: a greyish green annual or biennial to 1.25m, of arable fields and waste ground. The flowers are 25-35mm across with 4 yellow petals, often overtopped by buds, blooming from April-September. Widely cultivated but also casual in many places. Native to Mediterranean.

USES:

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They can be added to salads or used as a potherb. The leaves are also fermented for later use. Immature flowering stems can be cooked in much the same way as broccoli. An edible oil is obtained from the seed, it is used mainly for cooking purposes, but can also be used raw in salad dressings. Some caution is advised, however, see the notes above on toxicity. The sprouted seed is often used as the mustard part of mustard and cress. Eaten in salads. The seed is used as a mustard flavouring.

The root has emollient and diuretic properties. The juice of the roots is used in the treatment of chronic coughs and bronchial catarrh. The seed, powdered, with salt is said to be a folk remedy for cancer. Rape oil is used in massage and oil baths, it is believed to strengthen the skin and keep it cool and healthy. With camphor it is applied as a remedy for rheumatism and stiff joints. It is dropped into the ear to relieve earaches

GROWING INFORMATION:

Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil. Sow seeds in situ in early spring to mid-August. Easy.

HARVESTED: 2022

APPROX. 300+ SEEDS