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Licorice Root

Licorice Root

Licorice root refers to the root of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, a European perennial
legume that grows about 5 feet tall. A variety native to the U.S is called Glycyrrhiza lepidota, 9less intense in flavor). Glycyrrhiza uralensis is also known as Chinese licorice. It has a lovely aniseed taste and multiple medicinal uses as well. (Some plants have the word “licorice” in the name, but aren’t actually licorice root. For reference, licorice root comes from the Fabaceae family. However, licorice plants come from the Asteraceae family and is a type of foliage.) Be sure to double- check your seed packets before making a purchase.
Introduction
Mr. John Doe

Head Director

Description

Optimal Time/Temperature for Germination:
Licorice is a pretty hardy plant, and it isn’t as sensitive to changes in the weather as other plants are. Plan to sow your seeds sometime in the late spring months, or during early autumn. Licorice seeds are pretty finicky, and need to be “treated” with water ahead of time. Pour a small handful of seeds into a bowl of water, and let them sit for a little while—this will soften the seed casing and make them more likely to germinate. Your licorice root is much more likely to germinate if you soak the seeds ahead of time. Soak a clean paper towel with tap water and wring out the excess. Spread your seeds on the moist paper towel and fold it in half. Then, slip the seeds and paper towel into a sealed plastic bag. In order to germinate properly, licorice root seeds stratified—this is a fancy term for soaking and chilling your seeds. Slide the bag into the refrigerator, and let it chill for at least 3 weeks. During that time, check that the paper towel is still damp—if necessary, remoisten it with a few drops of water. If any of your seeds look like they’re germinating, or sprouting, remove them from the bag and plant them right away. Licorice thrives in zones 6-11.
Optimal Soil Conditions:
Search for an area outside where your licorice root can either get complete or partial sun throughout the day. Licorice root takes a long time to grow and mature, so pick a place that gets plenty of sunlight throughout the year. In America, licorice root grows naturally toward the western part of the country. Licorice root seeds do best in soil that’s 68 °F (20 °C). Grab a handful of soil from your planting area and see if it feels gritty and crumbly—this is a good sign that your soil is sandy. If it’s not sandy, dig up a large pit that’s as deep and wide as 2 gardening spade blades put together. Fill this pre-made pit with planting compost, so your plants have plenty of wiggle room to grow. Licorice root thrives in a planting area with great drainage. Grab a pH test kit from your local gardening store or nursery, and dig a small, 4 in (10 cm) into the soil. Fill this hole with distilled water, and place the testing probe in the water to get a reading. If the soil is too acidic, sprinkle lime or wood ash over the soil. Typically, licorice root thrives in soil with a pH that’s anywhere between 6.5 and 8.
Seed Planting Depth, Spacing and Procedure:
Licorice root is known for developing really expansive, wide roots. With this in mind, don’t plant your seeds directly next to one another. Instead, give them a lot of wiggle room, so they don’t bump into each other as they grow.Plant your seeds at least 2 ft (61 cm) apart and bury your seeds down in 2 in (5 cm) of soil. Don’t be discouraged if some of your licorice root seeds don’t yield a crop. This plant is pretty finicky, and doesn’t always grow. To be safe, plant multiple seeds—at least 1 of them is bound to sprout and mature.
Best Companion Plants and Plants that Hinder:
Companion plants are Marigolds, Marjoram, Rosemary, Lettuce, and Zinnia. Do not plant Onion, Leek, Garlic, Broccoli, Cabbage, and Cauliflower nearby.

Growing Instructions

Crop Maintenance

Moisture Requirements & Solutions:
In its native habitat, licorice root flourishes near riverbanks. With this in mind, soak the soil with water every day. Touch the soil with your finger each day to see if it’s dry to the touch—if it feels dry, douse it with a little more water. During the winter months, you don’t need to water your licorice plant as much. Check the soil each day to make sure it’s still moist.
Weeding Needs & Solutions:
Pick up a bag of generic mulch and spread a thin layer over the surface of the soil. This will protect your plant from weeds, and will also keep the soil nice and moist as your licorice root continues to grow.
Feeding Needs/Optimal Natural Fertilizers:
Dig in fertilizer before the initial planting of the licorice seedlings. After that, you can apply a nitrogen fertilizer every 6 weeks.
Pests, Diseases & Solutions:
Powdery mildew is pretty common on licorice root plants, but it’s nothing to worry about. Stir 1 tsp (4.8 g) of baking soda into 1 US qt (950 mL) of water, and transfer the mixture to a spray bottle. Spritz this mixture all over the plant to get rid of the fungus completely. Rabbits are known to sabotage licorice roots so try to keep them out of this part of the garden. Spider mites, tiny pests, chew through leaves, leaving them pale and speckled. The first sign of infestation you may notice is their thin webbing. Spider mites rapidly increase when conditions are warm and dry and can sap the life out of plants. Blast them off plants with a strong spray of water and then use neem oil or a sulfur spray to keep them away, (ensure all weeds are cleared away from the base of the licorice plant because the mites may be hiding in there.)
When to Harvest/Number of days to maturity:
This plant is low-maintenance and easy to take care of, but it’s a commitment because most licorice root takes at least 2 years before it’s mature enough to harvest. Once your plant is at least 2 ft (61 cm) tall, you’ll know it’s ready for harvesting. Grab a needle-nose spade and dig up the entire root, which will look like a long, woody stem. You can continue to harvest your plant as it grows over the years! Growing licorice is a long term activity. Some people say wait two years for the plant to develop roots big enough to use, others say four years. For a small family garden, two years is sufficient. Don’t wait longer than four years or the roots become woody and unusable. When the tops have dried in the fall cut them off and discard in your compost heap if you have had no pest issues. When you’re ready to harvest, dig out the roots, and save the biggest one or two to put back in the garden. (Licorice root is very hardy, and tends to keep growing back even after you’ve harvested it. If you aren’t a fan of long-term plants, then licorice root may not be the crop for you.)
How to Harvest:
One preferred method is either growing from cuttings or using rootstock to replant. If you are careful when harvesting the roots, you can use some for replanting next time. Just be careful not to damage the main root when harvesting and replanting. Roots for planting need at least one growth bud to be successful. By leaving any root in the soil, it will grow a new plant. However, lots of small bits of roots makes for lots of small plants so perhaps intentionally replant a big root from a harvested plant.
Optimal Storage temperature and conditions:
For storage, cut the roots into smaller chips and let them air dry in a warm, dry area. Depending on the chip size and the humidity, it can take weeks or months, but be patient, it’s worth it! If you don’t want to air dry your licorice, add water to the fresh roots and boil them down until you get a black syrup. You can use this to flavor Asian dishes, pour on ice cream or anything else you think would benefit from a sweet licorice syrup. It makes a nice tea too. Some people just chew on the dry chips for a sweet treat.
Optimal Preserving Procedures:
Seed Saving:

Harvest and Storage

Notes

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