Tartar Bread Plant (Crambe tatarica)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Frost limit
- −28.9 °C
Cultivation
An easily grown plant, succeeding in a good loam and an open sunny position. A deep-rooted plant. This is an aggregate species. Plants can be grown in the summer meadow if the grass is not cut too low (since this would damage the growing point).
Propagation
Seed - sow March/April in a seedbed outdoors and either thin the plants out or move them to their permanent positions when about 10cm tall. The young plants are very attractive to slugs so some protection will often be needed. Germination can be slow so it is best to sow the seed in pots in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out into their permanent positions when they are at least 10cm tall. Division in spring or autumn. Dig up the root clump and cut off as many sections as you require, making sure they all have at least one growing point. The larger of these divisions can be planted out straight into their permanent positions, though small ones are best potted up and grown on in a cold frame until they are established. Root cuttings, 3 - 10 cm long, in spring. These can be planted straight into the open ground or you can pot them up in the greenhouse and plant them out once they are growing strongly.
Edible uses
Leaves and young stems- raw or cooked. Root - raw or cooked.
Habitat
Bushy and grassy places.
Native range
E. Europe to W. Asia.