This set of seed discs of Spanish origin includes three exceptional and less common, yet highly beneficial herbs and medicinal plants: anise, summer savory, and catnip. The biodegradable 8 cm diameter seed discs make sowing incredibly easy and clean, ensuring even distribution of seeds and reducing the later need for thinning. This is an ideal solution for the novice gardener or urban gardener who wishes to grow herbs in a balcony box or on a windowsill.
Plants included in the set:
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Anise (annual): One of the world’s oldest herbs, with a sweetish aroma slightly reminiscent of licorice. The entire plant is edible – use young leaves and roots in salads and soups, and the aromatic seeds in baked goods, desserts, and liqueurs.
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Summer savory (annual): An herb with a pungent, spicy flavor reminiscent of pepper, also known as an excellent salt substitute. It is ideal for seasoning fattier dishes, mushrooms, green beans, and pea dishes, as it facilitates digestion. In folk medicine, savory is valued for relieving coughs.
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Catnip (perennial): A frost-resistant honey and tea plant with a delicate lemon scent reminiscent of lemon balm. Catnip is known for its calming effect, making it suitable for tea in cases of colds, insomnia, and stomach pains. In the garden, the plant later reproduces easily through self-seeding.
Usage and Cultivation Instructions:
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Sowing time: Indoors and on kitchen windowsills, you may sow in pots year-round. Place the discs outdoors in spring once the danger of night frost has passed (especially for summer savory and anise, which require warmth).
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Sowing: Take the seed disc and place it in a 10–12 cm diameter pot on moist soil, preferably seed-starting mix.
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Sowing depth: Cover the disc with only a very thin layer of soil (max 0.5 cm), as small seeds need light to germinate and sowing too deeply prevents emergence.
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Care and germination: Gently press the soil against the disc. Keep the sowing constantly moist (watering with a spray bottle is recommended). Anise requires a temperature of at least +10 °C to germinate; savory is also heat-loving.
Tips and recommendations:
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Since summer savory and anise are sensitive to cold, it is safer in the Estonian climate to pre-grow the plants indoors and move them outside or to a greenhouse only in early June.
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Catnip often attracts cats to the garden. If you wish to protect the plant from cats, place the pot slightly higher.