What Is Plantain?

Plantain is a herb that has many different benefits  in growing  it yourself or having it where you can get it when you need it.

Plantain has a plant cycle of a perennial and a type of growth which is herbaceous. This herb can grow in the zones 3-9.

Plantain can be found in many different climates and it is always found in disturbed soil. It is not unusually to find plantain growing alongside a mountain hiking trail. You can also find plantain growing intermixed with the grass at a local park or maybe out in your pasture especially if you  live out in the country like I do.

Plantain has a bloom traits which are tiny white flowers that grace a stalk that will later forms tan seeds.

Plantains grows from eight to twenty inches in height.

It is easy to grow plantains from seeds and if you stratify the seeds before you plant them, this will increase your germination rate to about seventy percent. Sprouting takes one to two weeks. You can start indoors in mid-spring and have them ready to transplant out in late spring, or start directly outdoors in  early to mid-spring. Because of plantain, growing in clumps they should be spaced twelve inches apart and it should be water moderately. This herb does not require any special soil needs. Plantain has to have full sun and partial shade to grow.

When you are harvesting plantain, you will harvest the whole plant and you can do this with a garden fork or a needle-nose spade. Plantain is harvest in spring though fall. The day that  your plantain is going to be harvests, the  soil needs to be moist, but not soggy. If you only want to use the roots only, then trim off the aerial parts with a pair of snips. Leaves may be handpicked  or snipped at any point during the growing season. You can harvest the seeds by waiting into maturity and then rub them from the stalks and husks. The parts that you can use are whole plant, roots, seeds, and leaves. You can used them either fresh or dried.

Plantain has many different medicinal benefits and they are skin problem, gastrointestinal conditions, the urinary tract, and children's health. It is also good for stopping  minor bleeding and for relieving insect bites and stings.

Plantain is good to have with you if you happen to have  a problem that require some first aid. If you have a problem all you need to do is to lay a leaf directly over the effected place or skin place and secure it with first-aid tap. The leaf will soothe the irritation and promote healing of the affected tissue.