Info on liquorice plants please?

[Guest]

Hi,

I have a couple of liquorice plants about four years old and I just wondered if anyone else who has grown this could let me know any of the following.

*At what point or age does it usually flower?
*Best way to propagate?
*What age and best time of year to harvest the root?

Any help would be great

[arpoet]

Liquorice? WOW! Cant help you on the first 2, but was about 5 when I first tried liquorice root. I suppose it was in the winter... The sweet shop sold em bundles of 6, or half a dozen.... Ahhh... perhaps that not what you meant.... Sorry.

[Bren In Pots]

NG I've found a few older threads hope they help:-

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ice_43236.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ase_58708.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ant_34171.html

[Guest]

Thank you. Guess I will give them another year seeing as they were moved and I can harvest and propagate this time next year. A bit scary possibly digging up a 4m root oh well we shall see. Thank you again

[noviceveggrower]

Where did you get them from? Never heard of them been grown in this country if at all.

[Guest]

I got the seed ages ago but they only done them in the range (eden project seed range I think) for one year. The seeds were a pain to germinate as well. I sowed a few each year for 3-4 years, the last lot finally took giving me 3 plants. Lost one before I moved. I will post on here hopefully next year about the harvest as there doesn't seem to be a vast amount of info.

[veggiechicken]

Does this help (from one of my favourite websites - PFAF)
Glycyrrhiza glabra Liquorice, Cultivated licorice PFAF Plant Database

[veggiechicken]

Liquorice to grow again in Pontefract | UK news | theguardian.com

[Guest]

Does this help (from one of my favourite websites - PFAF)
Glycyrrhiza glabra Liquorice, Cultivated licorice PFAF Plant Database

Thank you VC I will let you know next year It was just a bit daunting reading on one of the other sites about harvesting the tap roots and overwintering the crown and propagating the root runners - when you are not sure what to expect and it would be nice to see pics and idiot guides

[skeggijon]

Where did you get them from? Never heard of them been grown in this country if at all.

Used to be grown extensively around the Pontefract area, which was the centre of licorice production in the UK. Then Greman companies - mainly Haribo, came in and took over the UK producers and licorice now bought in from China for sweet making.
Apparently the town still smells of licorice on wednesdays, which is licorice boiling day.

[skeggijon]

Liquorice to grow again in Pontefract | UK news | theguardian.com

Just noticed your post VC - interesting article.

[Ocelot]

I have one plant (got it from Wisley). It doesn't do much to be honest, but is quite hardy. As others have said it was grown in Pontefract for years.