With the oyster plant you get an extremely interesting perennial in the garden. Not only the low maintenance speaks for them.
The variety of flavors of the plants in the home garden is great and can be expanded by a further nuance with the leaves of the oyster plant (Mertensia maritima). The oyster plant not only brings the taste of sea creatures to the table, the bizarre plant from rough coastal landscapes is easy to cultivate and has a high ornamental value thanks to its blue bell-shaped flowers.
Origin and peculiarities of the oyster plant
The plant, also known as coastal bluebells, is native to the coasts of Scotland and Iceland. The hobby gardener can take advantage of the robustness of the plants and enrich their garden with the pretty wild plant.
The seaweed grows to a rather short height of around 15 centimetres, but its blue flowers are impressive and form a nice contrast to the blue-green leaves with their slight silver shimmer.
Use for the oyster plant
The bluebell is not only important as an ornamental plant. The leaves of the plant are edible and promise a culinary surprise, as they are reminiscent of the aroma of seafood. The taste experience can best be compared to a mix of oysters, mushrooms, anchovies and borage.
The fleshy leaves can be harvested continuously between spring and autumn. In winter, the oyster plant retreats to the ground.
Tip: When harvesting, make sure that about half of the leaves remain on the oyster plant. If you overdo the harvest, you risk dying off the coastal bluebell.
The leaves of the oyster plant can enrich salads, refine fish dishes or be enjoyed directly on fresh bread.
Warning: If the leaves of the oyster plant are boiled, they lose their aroma.
Find the right location for the oyster plant
Since the oyster plant grows on the beaches, it is adapted to frequent exposure to the sun and is also used to a harsh climate. At homeA sunny location suits the bluebell in the garden. The beach plant also feels comfortable in partial shade. Sunlight should be available for a few hours a day. Otherwise, the plant makes no further demands on its location and can also be exposed to wind and rain.
Selecting the ideal substrate for the oyster plant
The substrate should be adapted to the original location of the oyster plant. Care must be taken to ensure that the soil is loose and permeable. The oyster plant does not like heavy clay soil. This should be prepared with sand and made looser.
Irrigation water and rainwater must be able to drain off well, because the oyster plant does not tolerate waterlogging. On the other hand, a slightly s alty soil is welcome. Therefore, the plants also thrive particularly well in coastal regions.
Planting the oyster plant - step by step
Spring is the best time to plant bluebells. Proceed as follows when planting:
1. Select location2. Remove weeds, roots and stones
3. Dig plant hole
4. Mix soil with sand if necessary5. Insert the plant
6. Fill in the soil
7. Press the soil down gently
8. Water the plant well
Plant the oyster plant in the bucket
The oyster plant is an enrichment for every bed, but also a welcome food for snails. Therefore, planting in the bucket can be considered. The snails are the biggest enemy of the otherwise robust beach plant. Despite installing a slug guard and other precautions, it is often not possible for the hobby gardener to protect the plant in the bed from slugs. As the slimy creatures descend on the fleshy leaves, defecating is not uncommon.
Planting in tubs has another advantage. If the location meets the requirements of the bluebell, the plant spreads over a large area via its foothills and can displace other bed neighbors.
When planting in containers, ensure that there are sufficiently large drainage holes in the bottom of the container. It is advantageous to create a drainage system made of gravel or potsherds. This promotes drainage of irrigation water and rainwater.
Water the oyster plant properly
Watering the oyster plant requires some finesse. Irrigation should not be neglected, but should not be overdone either. The soil shouldn't dry out, but it shouldn't appear permanently heavily soaked either.
If waterlogging occurs, the roots beginto rot, the plant can no longer supply itself with water and nutrients and dies.
Fertilize the oyster plant properly
When using fertilizer, the same applies as described for watering. There is no harm in fertilizing the plant during the growing season, but don't overdo it.
Tip: So that the nutrients can be constantly released to the plant, we recommend the administration of an organic long-term fertilizer:
The most important planting and care tips at a glance
| Activity | What needs to be considered? |
|---|---|
| Select Location | • sunny to semi-shady |
| Prepare the ground | • loosen up heavy soils with sand • ensure good drainage • remove roots and weeds from the soil |
| Water the oyster plant | • water regularly • avoid dehydration • avoid waterlogging |
| Fertilize oyster plant | • fertilize during the growth phase • organic long-term fertilizer recommended |
Pruning oyster plant
The low-growing plant does not require extensive pruning. In order to support the growth and flowering of the oyster plant, faded flowers should be removed regularly. This stimulates the bluebells to bloom again.
An occasional pruning will help the plant maintain its shape and develop strong stems.
Propagating oyster plants
Hobby gardeners have two options for propagating the oyster plant:
- Division
- Sowing
Propagating the oyster plant by division
This type of propagation assumes the presence of a well-developed oyster plant. Division is a simple method of propagation that immediately provides a vigorous plant that can be transplanted separately and cultivated as usual.
Division - step by step
1. Dig up the oyster plant
2. Check the roots
3. Remove damaged or dead plant parts
4. Divide the oyster plant in the middle
5. Put the divided plants back into the ground6. Water the plants well and care for them as usual
For pot cultivation, spring transplanting is an ideal time to divide the oyster plant as described.
Propagating the oyster plant by seed
The hobby gardener has to be much more patient when sowing theBring an oyster plant. It is important to remember that the oyster plant is a cold germ. This means that the seeds only germinate when a cold stimulus is given. Therefore, it is sown directly outdoors at a rather unusual time, namely between October and February. The seeds should only be lightly covered with substrate because the oyster plant needs light to germinate.
Tip: To prevent the seedlings from becoming victims of snails, it is advisable to sow them in plant pots.
The seeds must not dry out, so water them regularly. It should be noted that the seeds germinate irregularly and over a longer period of time.
Overwintering the oyster plant
The robust beach plants survive the cold season on rough coasts. Therefore, overwintering outdoors is not a problem. Additional winter protection is not necessary.
When keeping in a bucket, make sure that the planter cannot freeze through. The hobby gardener achieves this by placing it on a base made of Styrofoam or wood.