What is the winter cress?
Winter Cress is a common name for the family of plants Barbara , which belongs to the Brassicaceae or Mustard family. Some members of this family are known vegetables called Cole crops such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. This genus has 22 species and is generally a biennial, which means it matures and grows flowers every two years. One of its more popular species is Barbara Vulgaris, a perennial, which is more commonly known as yellow rockets, bitter stages or mountain cut. Winter Cress usually occurs in wide open fields and is originally from the northern hemisphere, southern Europe and Asia.
These plants grow to a height of 2 feet (about 0.61 meters). They have smooth, dark green, lobed basal leaves that grow up to 6 inches (about 15 centimeters) long and 2.5 inches (about 6.35 centimeters) wide with roses or layered wins. The leaves are usually formed until March, along with the first appearance of the green flower buds, it looks similar to broccoli. Bright yellow, 4-talked flowers bloom from April toAugust.
Several species are used as a herb or chopped and adds to salads and soups to provide a spicy, slightly bitter taste. They are usually slightly cooked to remove part of the bitter taste. Winter Cress is said to have a high content of vitamin C, vitamin A and antioxidants. It is also said that bitter tea made of winter cress can improve appetite, cure cough and clean blood. In Europe, Herba Barbaraea, a medical substance derived from a yellow rocket, sometimes uses to treat wounds.
Winter Cress is sometimes grown as an ornamental plant, because it can be very attractive for garden landscaping or as a flower pot for the terrace. It generally prefers growth in full sun, but can tolerate a light shade. Promotion is performed both from direct vaccination and seedlings, well drained and sandy or aluminum soil. The best time for direct sitting is usually during the late summer, the oneKže leaves and flower buds can be harvested in winter or early spring when they are tasty with a mustard sweet undertone.
These plants are considered annoying weeds in North America - called spring mustard - but can be controlled by plowing or mowing in spring. Plants may also contain toxins and contaminates, including herbicides and pesticides from the soil. Gardeners should be careful when harvesting leaves and flowers to spice for salad or soup.