Anise Hyssop

[Ricko]

I noticed that the bees were really working the Anise Hyssop plants my wife put in her flower garden. I've investigated and found a pound of seed that I was thinking of broadcasting on my one acre field behind my house late this fall which is just grass and weeds at the moment. They say that this plant is a self seeder and I don't know much about it.It just seems like a real rush to think that next fall I could be sitting in a field of Anise Hyssop and honey bees during the last "sweet light" of the day taking in the buzzing of the bees and the smell of the flowers!
Does anyone have information on this plant as to sowing seed,propagation of and just general information relating to its use as a major honey plant. Thanks in advance!

[bjerm2]

Here are a few webb sites you can look at.

http://www.hallsongardens.com/plantinfo/agastache.html http://www.gardenerspath.com/plantguide/anisehyssop.html http://www.botany.com/agastache.html

Dan

[hoosierhiver]

i've found it pretty easy to grow.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

http://www.beeculture.com/beeculture/book/chap9/anise.html

[BerkeyDavid]

Has anyone tried to sow it directly up north? The references all say to sow indoors then transplant after frost. I am wondering if it would be worthwhile to try to sow it directly. Has anyone tried to do so?

[Ricko]

David, that was the question I had in mind.
I believe the seed itself doesn't really require to be plant under any appreciable amount of dirt. In reading up on the plant,I found it is a self seeder. Which means in the fall when the bloom dies the seed is left.This falls to the ground and becomes next years plant. My thinking was,because some plants require a cold dormant period, that I'd broadcast the seed onto my field in late October or early November.This allows for the cold winter snow cover until next springs thaws.I had also planned on taking the riding mower over the weeds this fall in order to pack the seed down and to cut down the weeds so that next spring there isn't a lot of competition for sunlight. I'd like to think that I'm correct in my plan as the seed is $150.00 per lb. Yet I can justify the cost in many ways! Can't we all when it comes down to a hobby we love! LOL

[BerkeyDavid]

Ricko
My bee inspector stopped by last night and we were talking about forage, he mentioned this anise hysop as a good bee plant. So when I saw your question I had to look into it.
Yes I was thinking the same thing. Since it is a perennial, once it got going you would be ok. I was even thinking about putting some down yet this fall and get it to sprout, then in the spring it would be ready. I will call me seed guy and see what price he quotes. How many pounds per acre were you figuring?

At that price maybe we can also make as much money harvesting the seed!
david

[ron c]

Berkey David; On anise, what size are the seeds?Would it require any specialized planting/harvesting eqp.?Could a person market a crop(20 acre)localy? Thanks,Ron.

[BerkeyDavid]

Don't know details on this, web sites found so far just say to start indoors, transplant after temps warm up. I am going to try to find a cheaper source of seed, then plant some early fall (like winter wheat) some after frost, start some in cold frames, and then some after frost.

Those that I transplant from the cold frames I will put in rows so I can run a cultivator through.

Above subject to change if I can find someone with experience to advise...

What do you think of this plan?

I don't know the size of the seed, nor how to process...

david

[Hillside]

You may want to consider Agastache nepetoides (Giant Yellow Hyssop). This is a native plant to the US. It's more hardy (zone 2 for all of us northern folks) than Agastache foeniculum and it's reported to be an excellent nector producer.

This kind of perennial is usually planted mid to late summer so that it flowers the next year. Plant it about a quarter inch deep and keep it well weeded and watered the first year. Seed can be broadcast on the surface, but germination will be somewhat reduced. If you broadcast on well cultivated soil and then water it in, you will get germination nearly as good as if it were planted at a quarter inch.

It's getting a little late for planting this year unless you already have the seed and can plant right away.

[Ricko]

This is what I've found out so far. There are 95,000 seeds per oz. So I'd say they're pretty small seeds. The best price I've found is $120.00 per lb. For me, it's going to be 1 lb. to the acre at that price! If next year things look kind of thin, I can always plant more seed next fall. I'll sow my seed in late Oct. If you have anything like dutch clover in your field now, you'll have to spray with Round-up. Close tight growing plants that hug the ground like dutch clover will not allow for the sunshine to hit the seed next spring.
Just mix your seed with about 5-8 gallons of peat or sand and broadcast it by hand.
The freezing and thawing action this winter will work the seed into the ground. It doesn't have to be deep. Now the only thing I've run into that I don't have an answer to is when it comes to these wildflower types of plants, they say a field burn-off every 3 years will help to really secure the plants in your field. How bad off am I if I don't burn-off the field? I'm sure my township fire department wouldn't find any humor in me trying to do a controlled burn of several acres!