Milk thistle

How to grow Milk thistle growing and care:

Nothing special

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seedling / Seed

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Invasive

Planting season:
Spring in cold climate / Autumn in warm climate

Pests and diseases:
Powdery mildew

Pruning season:
All season

How to prune:
No need

Size of the plant?
0.5-1.8 m

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing

Water requirement:
Small amount of water / Average amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Spring in warm climate/ Summer in colder areas

General information about the flower
Purple and rarely white and even pink in the base of the flower there is spines

Pollination is done by:
Bees, butterfly +

Uses of Milk thistle flower:
Cooked

Edible leaves

Leaves harvesting season
Spring / Summer / Autumn to winter in hardiness zone 10-11

How to harvest the leaves?
In the base of the leaf

Information about leaves:
Green leaves sometimes with white lines in the edge of the leaf there is spines.

Uses of Milk thistle leaves:
Cooked, salad

Edible roots

Information about Milk thistle root:
White root with brownish peel,

When to pull up Milk thistle root:
Summer

Uses of Milk thistle root:
Cooked

Scientific name:

Silybum marianum