Sinapis arvensis 'Charlock'

[Ex. Sunderland, England]

Brassicaceae: bristly annual to 0.8 m (2ft 7in). Lower leaves, are large and lyre shaped, upper are lanceolate, not clasping the stem. Flowers yellow, 15 to 20 mm, blooming from May to July. Fruit 25 to 45 mm long and beaded. Similar in appearance and habitat to Oil-seed Rape. Found in arable fields, waste and disturbed ground, roadsides. Native to Europe, including Britain, south and east from Norway to North Africa, Siberia and South West Asia.

USES:

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and are somewhat hot, the young leaves are used as a flavouring in salads, where they add a piquant flavour, and the older leaves are used as a potherb. It is best to use just the young shoots and leaves in the spring, older leaves are bitter. Flowering stems can be cooked, they have a pleasant, cabbage/radish flavour, and they can be used as a broccoli substitute before the flowers open. The stems should be lightly steamed for no more than 5 minutes. The flowers can also be cooked as a vegetable or used as a garnish. Its seeds it can be sprouted and eaten raw, they also have a hot flavour, they can be added to salads and sandwiches. The seed can be ground into a powder and used as a food flavouring. It has a hot mustard flavour.

The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Black depression', 'Melancholia' and 'Gloom'.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Germinate seeds in spring and autumn, they should not need much encouragement. Usually found on heavy alkaline soils in the wild, but succeeds on most soils. Dislikes shade.

HARVESTED: 2020

 
APPROX. 100+ SEEDS