Licorice
Licorice: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Liquorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra, is an herbaceous perennial in the pea family, Fabaceae. It occurs in parts of Europe and Asia and has long been cultivated for the flavour of its underground parts. The name Glycyrrhiza refers to a sweet root. Its botanical identity matters: a liquorice-like flavour also occurs in aromatic plants such as anise and fennel, although they do not belong to the same genus.Above ground, the plant first appears as a leafy clump rather than anything resembling a confectionery product. Its upright, branching stems can reach around a metre or more, depending on the soil and growing conditions. The alternate leaves consist of several pairs of leaflets and a terminal leaflet. These small elongated to oval units give a lighter texture than a single broad leaf. A developed clump also occupies width and may send up shoots away from its original centre.In summer, small pea-like flowers gather in…
