Liqourice Plant

[vicpivo]

My wife mentioned something she heard something about the Liquorice plant on the radio today and like the sound of growing them.

I did a bit of googling and found the name of the plant is Glycyrrhiza glabra, and you can get circa 25 seeds for £3.

Has anyone else tried to grow them? What were you exeprences, and do you have any advice for the novice?

Thanks all

[sewer rat]

Absolutely no experience at all, but have seen a photo of men digging a liquorice trench taken about the turn of the century - must have been all of five feet deep anyway !!!!!

[shirlthegirl43]

I have some seeds but haven't got round to planting yet.

[vicpivo]

The following link to wikipedia was quite useful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquorice

It takes three years to be able to harvest apparently - better be worth the wait! Not sure about digging the five foot trench!

[Flummery]

We used to buy liquorice root as kids - it's just like it sounds - rough and woody. You chew it and get a vaguely liquorice flavour while picking bits of wood out of your mouth! Didn't really like it but it was 'cool' to chew it. To produce liquorice like you buy it needs processing - boiling, brewing up with sugar etc. I don't want anyone to be disappointed!
By the way, Pontefract, liquorice capital of the universe, is having its liquorice festival next week. You can buy the products AND the roots ready to plant.

[piskieinboots]

anyone got any updates on this one?

I visited Sulgrave Manor today and as most here will know that is the home of the Herb Society, well as I trotted around a large seed head of Glycyrrhiza glabra fell to the - erm - floor ....so I picked it up and am about to soak it for 24 hours and then sow.

Did you sow Shirley?

[piskieinboots]

I'm guessing that's a no then

[vicky]

My dad's got one of these in his garden (I think!) it makes a nice border plant. But it seems a bit of a faf to try to make liquorice from it - esp when I don't even like the stuff!