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Barbarea vulgaris

Bittercress · Common Winter-cress · Cressy-greens · Garden Yellowrocket

Family BrassicaceaeGenus Barbarea

A tall branching stem topped with clusters of small bright yellow four-petalled flowers, against a pale sky
The whole plantDidier DescouensCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
biennial or perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
Gold/YellowExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
5-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Named for Saint Barbara, patron saint of artillerymen and miners, because the plant was once used to soothe wounds caused by explosions. Another name is creasy greens. Wikipedia: Barbarea vulgaris

Two sources report 4 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 4 days to germinate.

100% germination in 4 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Barbarea p. 18Public domain
Show the original text
Barbarea (Brassicaceae). B. vulgaris variegata germ. 70L(100% on 4th d) and 70D(36% in 6-10 d). When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 9 w, 50% germ. in 1-6 w. Germination is not only better in light, but the period in 70D was deleterious. However, we may be dealing with a species in which the light requirement is disappearing on DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Barbarea p. 18. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 10 days to germinate.

36% germination in 6–10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Barbarea p. 18Public domain
Show the original text
Barbarea (Brassicaceae). B. vulgaris variegata germ. 70L(100% on 4th d) and 70D(36% in 6-10 d). When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 9 w, 50% germ. in 1-6 w. Germination is not only better in light, but the period in 70D was deleterious. However, we may be dealing with a species in which the light requirement is disappearing on DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Barbarea p. 18. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 4 days to germinate.

78% germination in 4 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Barbarea p. 24Public domain
Show the original text
Barbarea (Brassicaceae). B. vulgaris germ. 70L(78% on 4th d) and 70D(25% in 6-10 d). Germination in 70 GA-3 was simiiar to 70L.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Barbarea p. 24. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 10 days to germinate.

25% germination in 6–10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Barbarea p. 24Public domain
Show the original text
Barbarea (Brassicaceae). B. vulgaris germ. 70L(78% on 4th d) and 70D(25% in 6-10 d). Germination in 70 GA-3 was simiiar to 70L.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Barbarea p. 24. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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