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Mertensia maritima - Huître végétale
I am currently very worried as it seems that my plants are being held up by the delivery company for customs reasons. I fear that my plants will be in a poor condition upon arrival. I am awaiting the resolution of this issue, and I trust that you will do your best.
Pierre-Etienne Mouchet , 23/03/2024
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Dispatch by letter from €3.90.
Delivery charge from €5.90 Oversize package delivery charge from €6.90.
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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty
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We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
From €5.90 for pickup delivery and €6.90 for home delivery
Express home delivery from €8.90.
The Mertensia maritima, sometimes called the Vegetable Oyster in reference to the surprising taste of its slightly bluish leaves. It is a perennial and creeping herbaceous plant, reaching 15 cm (6in) in height and 50 cm (20in) in width. It can be grown in the ground or in a pot. Plant it in spring or autumn and harvest as needed.
The Mertensia maritima belongs to the Boraginaceae family, like Borage, but its iodine taste is more pronounced. This plant, which grows spontaneously in dunes, is now protected. It is an herbaceous, creeping plant with blue-green foliage. It produces bell-shaped flowers in a blue-violet color in summer. Very decorative, the Maritime Mertensia can be planted in ornamental gardens as well as in vegetable gardens. This perennial and very hardy plant remains in place for several years, although its foliage disappears in winter. It requires well-drained soil. You can also grow it in a pot.
In terms of cooking, the oyster-flavoured leaves are generally consumed raw and add a touch of originality to fish dishes or salads.
Harvesting: Leaf by leaf as needed.
Storage: Freshly picked leaves can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. They can also be preserved in vinegar, like samphire.
Gardener's tip: If your plants are being eaten by snails and slugs, place ash or coffee grounds nearby, and renew after rain.
Note: Delicate plant to cultivate, slow growth, recommended for experienced gardeners.
Mertensia maritima in pictures
Harvest
Plant habit
Foliage
Planting is done in spring (from March to May) or in autumn (September-October). Mertensia maritima prefers partially shaded or lightly sunny locations. It thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soils with a sandy tendency. If your soil is heavy, add some sand at the time of planting.
In open ground: Apply compost a few months before planting by raking it into the soil 5 cm (2in) deep. Dig a hole (3 times the volume of the root ball) and place a little gravel at the bottom to facilitate drainage. Cover with a little soil, place the root ball, and cover again with fine soil. Press down and water. During cultivation, watering is mainly done in summer.
In a pot: Use a large pot (50 cm (20in) in diameter) and place a layer of gravel or clay balls at the bottom to facilitate drainage. Fill the pot with a mixture of potting soil and sand. Place the root ball, cover with soil, and press down firmly. Water. During cultivation, water moderately, mainly in summer, without allowing water to stagnate in the saucer. Bring the pot into a cold greenhouse or conservatory before frost.
Regularly trim the flowers to promote leaf production.
Cultivation
Care
Intended location
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
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The flowering period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, etc.)
It will vary according to where you live:
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands).
It will vary according to where you live:
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.