INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA 

Description

INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA  – also known as true indigo.

One of the oldest plants in cultivation. Indigofera has been used for thousands of years as a natural dye – producing a wonderful blue colour made from the fermented leaves of the plant. A shrubby plant with silvery branches and thin, pinnate foliage bearing axillary spikes of small pink flowers.

Sow indoors in March.

• Soak seeds overnight in warm water then sow in individual pots in a good compost at a depth of 4mm and maintain a temperature of 65 – 70 degrees F.
• Cover with a plastic lid or bag – keep moist but not waterlogged.
• Germination can be erratic – but should germinate between 2 – 4 weeks but can take even longer.
• Once germinated remove plastic cover – but keep moist.
• Plant out when a good root system has developed and the risk of frost has passed – about late May – June in a sunny and sheltered position – in free draining soil.

Prefers a pH in the range of 6 – 7

Final spacing – about 3 feet.

Keep moist. Indigo requires regular feeding between July and September.

Grows to a height of between 3 – 6 feet upon maturity.

Produces pink to violet flowers followed by seed pods.

Harvest just before the flower opens as the indigo yield reduces after flowering.

Indigo requires a long growing season and usually comes into full flower September – October.

15 seeds – £3.50

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