Woad

Woad — variety description

Woad (Isatis tinctoria) is a biennial herb of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Woad has a clump of glossy leaves above which rise masses of small yellow flowers, which in turn produce sprays of unusual elongated seeds.

This is the plant that became famous as the source of the most important natural blue dye, used by the Celts, the ancient people of the British Isles.

The leaves must be dried and then soaked and fermented in water to produce a deep blue dye.

Woad is an old dye and medicinal plant with yellow flowers.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 82%
• Pack size: 0.1 g
• Seed origin: Germany
• Sowing: March and April; direct
• Flowering: June – September
• Harvest: May – July
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Woad

Woad seeds are sown in March and April. The plants flower from June to September. The crop is harvested from May to July. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Woad

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 0.5–1 cm
• Spacing: 20–30 cm
• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Sow directly in spring. Surface sowing on prepared, fine soil. Sow in rows. Germination will occur when the soil reaches 10-13°C and the danger of frost has passed. Germination takes about 1-2 weeks. Water well. Thin the seedlings to 30 cm apart. It flowers with small yellow blooms from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The stems are upright, ranging from 50-90 cm, with stem leaves that are narrower than the basal leaves, diminishing as they rise up the stem.

Undemanding.

Harvest and use

The leaves are harvested for dye.

Frequently asked questions

When should Woad be sown?

The recommended sowing months are March and April. Sowing method: direct.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 82%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.