How to Grow Feverfew

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6-11-2020, 05:00
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Feverfew is an aromatic, flowering herb that can be used to brighten up your garden and even to treat medical conditions such as headaches. It is an easy-to-grow perennial plant, and is often mistaken for a weed because of how easily it spreads after taking hold. As long as you plant feverfew in well-draining soil, make sure it gets plenty of sun, and keep it watered, you will have a plentiful supply of the plant. Enjoy how it looks in your garden, or harvest it to make herbal remedies for what ails you!

Choosing a Planting Location

  1. Choose a spot that has well-draining, loamy soil. Loamy soil is soil that is composed of sand, silt, and clay. The best type of soil for feverfew will contain about equal parts of sand and silt, with a lower concentration of clay.
    • To test if the soil drains well, dig a hole that is about 12 in (30 cm) across and 12 in (30 cm) deep. Fill the hole with water and time how long it takes to drain. If it drains in 10 minutes or less, then the drainage is very good. If it drains in an hour or longer, then it is poor drainage.
  2. Till a plot and mix in compost if you don’t have a spot with loamy soil. Use a garden hoe to till the soil 6 in (15 cm) down and add 3 in (7.6 cm) of compost on top. Mix the compost in well with the hoe to create a good soil composition for growing feverfew.
    • If you are preparing a plot of soil, it is best to do so in early spring, right before you plan on planting the feverfew.
  3. Plant feverfew in pots if you don't want it to spread in your garden. Feverfew spreads rapidly on its own once it is established. Plant it in pots full of loamy soil instead of the ground if you want to have more control over it.
    • Purchase some well-draining, loamy potting soil if you decide to plant feverfew in pots.
    • Use pots that are 9–12 in (23–30 cm) deep and about 12 in (30 cm) in diameter for each feverfew plant you want to grow.
  4. Pick an area that gets 6 or more hours of sun each day. Feverfew plants like to get a lot of sun. Choose a place to plant it that gets full sun for 6 or more hours a day if you live in a cool to warm climate, and a spot that gets partial shade for up to 3 hours in the afternoon if you live in a very hot climate.
    • Feverfew does not survive extremely cold temperatures. It grows well in USDA zones 5-10.

Planting the Seeds or Seedlings

  1. Start feverfew in the early spring, after the last frost. Planting feverfew early will ensure that it blooms in the first year. Check the forecast to make sure that there are no more freezing temperatures before you plant so that the seeds or seedlings survive.
    • Feverfew plants that are 6 months old and well-rooted can tolerate winter temperatures.
  2. Plant feverfew seeds or seedlings 12 in (30 cm) apart. This is how much space you need to have in all directions between feverfew plants. Plant seeds or seedlings this distance apart from the start so you don’t have to move them later.
    • If you want to plant feverfew in a garden bed with other plants, do it with other types of aromatic herbs such as mint.
    • Make sure not to plant feverfew near plants that need to be pollinated by bees. Feverfew has a scent that repels bees.
  3. Sow seeds just below the soil or dig a small hole to fit the seedlings. Press seeds just under the soil with your thumb and cover them up with dirt. Dig a small hole big enough to fit the root system of a seedling, place the plant in, and compact the soil around the base.
    • You can get feverfew seeds and seedlings at a garden center.
    • If you choose to plant seeds, they will germinate and start sprouting in about 1-2 weeks.
  4. Water the soil right after planting and keep it moist. This is especially important to help seeds germinate. Make sure that the soil doesn’t dry out by misting it with a hose daily.
    • If you live in an extremely hot climate, then check on the soil twice a day to make sure it does not dry out.

Maintaining the Plants

  1. Water the soil regularly to keep it moist but not soggy. Feverfew doesn’t like dry or soaking wet soil, so it’s important to keep it moist without over watering it. Water the soil evenly with a hose or watering can to re-dampen it whenever it starts to dry out.
    • Remember to check on the plants more frequently, at least 2 times a day, if you live in a very hot climate.
  2. Add a light, organic fertilizer to the soil each spring after the first year. Mix a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil each spring after you have established feverfew plants.
    • Be gentle when you mix fertilizer in so you don’t damage the root systems. Sprinkle it on top and lightly mix it in with your hands or a small garden trowel, rather than using a large tool like a garden hoe.
  3. Mulch the soil with a layer of compost after the plants emerge after their first winter. Add a top layer of organic compost to the soil after your feverfew survives its first winter. This will provide the plants with nutrients and help conserve moisture in the soil for the coming summer.
    • You can get organic compost mulch at a garden center or make your own.
  4. Prune dead and discolored flowers and stems to encourage new growth. Use garden shears to clip off any stems that look dead, diseased, or discolored. Do this after the first flowering to promote healthy new growth and flowers.
    • You can prune feverfew back by up to 1/3 of the plant without worrying about hurting it.
  5. Watch out for pests like slugs, powdery mildew, spider mites, and aphids. These pests are more likely to appear if you overwater your feverfew. Make sure to deal with any infestations as soon as you see them to prevent a bigger problem.
    • Insecticidal soaps can be used to treat infestations of aphids and other pests.

Harvesting Feverfew

  1. Harvest feverfew after it blooms fully. Wait for the feverfew to be in full flower, during late spring and in the summer, before you harvest it. Make sure the plant still has abundant greenery when you harvest it so it will recuperate.
    • Feverfew plants will typically die off after 2-3 years. However, once the plants are established they reseed themselves and spread very easily, so you will always have a supply of feverfew after planting it.
  2. Gather whole stems with flowers and leaves. Use garden shears to clip off whole stems. Leave the flowers and leaves attached to the stems to be dried all together if you want to make herbal remedies.
    • If you aren’t planning on making any herbal remedies, you can also put harvested feverfew in a vase to brighten up your home and add a citrusy scent!
  3. Hang bunches of feverfew up to dry. You will need to dry the feverfew if you want to make herbal remedies. Tie together bunches of feverfew stems with twine or string and hang them somewhere in your home where they will dry out as quickly as possible.
    • Use dried feverfew within 4 months to get the most effect from it.
  4. Make herbal teas from a mixture of dried leaves, flowers, and stems. Steep the dried feverfew in hot water to make medicinal herbal teas. Drink the tea to treat a variety of medical problems such as fever, headaches, cramps, rheumatism, arthritis, and digestive problems.
    • Feverfew has been especially known to help prevent and treat migraines.

Tips

  • Don’t place feverfew near plants that rely on bees for pollination because it has a citrusy scent that repels them.
  • Feverfew can be used to treat a variety of health issues such as fever, headaches, cramps, rheumatism, arthritis, and digestive problems. Medicinal remedies can be made with a mixture of the flowers, stems, and leaves.
  • Feverfew plants will die off after 2-3 years, but are naturally self-seeding. This means that once you plant it, it will keep growing on its own.

Things You'll Need

  • Feverfew seeds or seedlings
  • Garden hoe
  • Compost
  • Garden shears
  • Organic fertilizer
  • Garden trowel
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