Barbarea vulgaris
Barbarakraut
Common names: Wintercress, True Barbarakraut
Photo: Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Barbarea vulgaris is a wintergreen biennial herb in the Brassicaceae family. Its dark green, glossy leaf rosettes withstand frost well into winter, providing fresh greens when other garden plants are scarce. In its second year the plant sends up long stems bearing bright yellow flower clusters that attract bees and hoverflies from May to June. The species is tolerant of frost, wet soils, and can thrive in partial shade.
Care instructions
Plant in loose, moist soil with full sun to partial shade. It tolerates occasional dry days. Keep the area weed-free during the first weeks after sowing; thereafter the plant will self‑sustain. Harvest young leaves regularly from the outer edges to encourage new growth. After second‑year flowering, the plant may self‑seed; cut stems promptly if self‑seeding is undesirable. For continuous harvest, stagger sowing in spring and late summer.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
moist, nutrient-rich, humus-rich, loamy
Feeding
Light feeder
Companion planting
Good neighbors
legume family (Fabaceae)
particularly well establishedLeguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.
For example PeaBush beanPole beanBroad beanMarker peaSugar pea and 31 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
carrot family (Apiaceae)
You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.
For example Carrotcelery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCoriander and 19 more species in the catalogue
Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice
mint family (Lamiaceae)
You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.
For example LavenderThymeBasilRosemarySageHyssop and 31 more species in the catalogue
Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice
nasturtium family (Tropaeolaceae)
Nasturtium serves as a trap plant for you. Aphids and cabbage whiteflies prefer it over the brassicaceae next to it.
For example Tropaeolum majusMashua
Source: Trap plant practice in organic horticulture
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
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