
Medicinal plants are a great addition to any garden. They produce beautiful blooms, attract insect pollinators, and of course produce valuable leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, and roots. Medicinal herbs can be sown from seed, seedlings, or overwintered. Cultivars with a long dormancy period and requiring natural stratification are suitable for winter sowing. These plants usually reproduce well by self-seeding. You will learn more about What Herbs Should Be Sown Before Winter by Bubgo article.
When To Sow Medicinal Plants For The Winter
The timing of winter sowing depends on the climatic conditions of the region. In Siberia, the Urals, and the Far East, winter sowing is usually done by the end of October. In the center and south, sowing can also be done in November and December. However, if the beds are prepared in advance, covered (so that the soil does not freeze) and the soil is available, sowing can be done in any weather in any region, in late autumn or early winter, or even in January if necessary.
Tip: An important rule for winter sowing: the later the better.
The reason for using a late date is to give the seeds in the ground no time to germinate, but just to swell up before spring. This way, the seeds will germinate and sprout when the snow melts and the first spring sun shines.
How Do I Know If A Medicinal Plant Can Be Planted In The Winter?
It is believed that if plants reproduce well by self-seeding, they are suitable for winter sowing. This means that these seeds do not have a rapid awakening process. They have a long dormancy period: once they enter the moist soil in autumn, they will wait until spring.
A. Fennel flower (Black Cumin)
Not everyone knows that this plant has medicinal value. More often than not, it is only grown as an ornamental plant because of its beautiful blue and pink flowers. It also looks great as a dried flower in winter bouquets. The fennel flower is known for the black color of its seeds, so it is more commonly known as Black Cumin.
Valuable are the seeds: the immature plants are cut, bundled into bundles, and hung down with their seed capsules. In folk medicine, it is used to treat liver, intestinal, and stomach problems, and as a cholagogue.
B. German chamomile
In addition to its undeniable medicinal properties, German chamomile is also highly decorative. The white and yellow flowers are a rustic landscape decoration that can be combined with bluebells or even roses.
Infusion of German chamomile is used to treat stomach, intestinal, and liver diseases. It is used as an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic agent.
German chamomile mouthwash is indicated for throat and mouth disorders. german chamomile is also widely used in cosmetology to improve skin conditions.
C. Spanish needles
1. The plant is actively used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The bright small yellow flowers will decorate flower beds and mixed flower beds for medicinal purposes.
2. The benefits of the Spanish needle's continuous rinsing are well known - the herb is beneficial for dry skin, irritation, and allergic reactions.
3. The infusion is used to treat colds; it also has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.
D. Milk thistle
Milk thistle is an herb with unique medicinal value. It is included in many medicinal preparations. It is particularly helpful in treating liver and gallbladder disorders. milk thistle can also help treat skin conditions, acne, and baldness. Dried fruits, seeds, and rhizomes are used as medicinal ingredients
E. Inula
Inula has ornamental bright yellow needle-like flowers. It is widely used in medicine as an expectorant. It can also help in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and skin diseases.
The plant is a perennial and the roots are used to obtain medicinal ingredients, which are dug up and dried in the fall. Thanks to its essential oil, the roots of Inula smell as pleasant as violets.

F. Common motherwort
1. A well-known medicinal herb with a calming effect. Used in old age, for stress and exertion.
2. Common motherwort infusion can help treat nervous exhaustion, restless sleep, high blood pressure, menopausal syndrome, and skin disorders.
3. This is a perennial herb that is harvested by cutting off the leaves and stems at the beginning of flowering and drying them in the sun.
G. Chelidonium
1. Usually this medicinal herb grows as a weed in cultivated areas. However, if you are developing a new field and this useful invader has not yet taken up residence, it is worth planting. To prevent the plant from spreading, plant slabs or other material about 40 inches (1 meter) deep to prevent the root system from spreading in the area.
2. Chelidonium is used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic agent. It relieves itching, irritation, and redness on the skin. It is used to treat septic wounds.
3. A perennial herb. The raw material is a young herb that is cut and dried during flowering.
H. Thyme
1. Thyme is good for making herbal teas, has health benefits, and is also suitable for sowing in winter.
2. It can be used as a sedative and anti-inflammatory agent.
3. It has a pleasant spicy aroma.
I. Anthyllis
1. A medicinal and ornamental herb with healing and antiseptic properties.
2. May be contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women and children.
J. Black salsify
A little-known but very useful vegetable crop: it lowers sugar levels and strengthens the immune system. black salsify's black root can be used as a food or medicinal plant. Either way, adding Black salsify to your menu will add important vitamins and micronutrients to your body.
Black salsify is helpful in the diet for obesity, hypertension, vitamin deficiencies, and anemia. This root vegetable is recommended for diets and diabetic diets. The roots are harvested in autumn and stored in moist sand.
K. Chicory
1. Suitable for sowing in winter as well as in spring. Planted in fields, it provides a fully grown root system for harvesting.
2. It has good choleretic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Regular intake lowers sugar levels and improves appetite, lowers blood pressure, and dilates blood vessels. It should be taken with caution as there are serious contraindications.
3. The roots of Chicory are dug up in late autumn and dried in batches.
The medicinal plants in the garden provide the necessary fresh and valuable raw material for medicinal decoctions, infusions, and teas. Winter sowing will provide you with early medicinal products and help you adjust the timing of harvesting and drying.