Growing Burdock, also Gobo (Japanese Burdock)

Arctium lappa : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec

Not recommended for growing in USA - Zone 5a regions

  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 60 cm apart
  • Harvest in 17-18 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best grown in separate bed.

Your comments and tips

25 Mar 09, Kat (Australia - temperate climate)
Hey Jonathan, you don't have a recipe for that tea do you? I grew up in the UK and I remember is dandelion and burdock as my favorite fizzy drink! I have seen mention of an old fashioned cordial too, which I guess is where the fizzy drink idea came from.
12 Dec 08, Catherine (Australia - temperate climate)
Burdock and other culinary and medicinal seeds can be bought cheap and in bulk from Pleasance Seeds. Google for address.
01 Nov 08, Jonathan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
The Japanese are great consumers of Burdock, or "Gobo" stir fried with carrot and chilli and soy and is fantastic - called "Kinpira Gobo" it is a lovely dish. I sometimes buy my seed in Japan and if anyone would like me to get some, I can pick some up the next time I'm there... It's ok to import as long as customs see the original packet and can see that the contents have not been tampered with. I have just dug up my first crop but didnt realise the fingers grow really deep and should really be harvested quite early to get them really tender. To think we used to drink dandelion and burdock tea when i was a kid in the U.K... It seems such a under-rated veggie and has a delicious nutty flavour.
23 Jun 10, kim chi pham (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
How can I buy burdoch seed from Japan. Thanks kim chi
07 Jul 08, Mark (Australia - temperate climate)
goto edenseeds.com.au - great people and seeds
10 Jun 08, kiera (Unknown climate)
Cheaper to buy direct from cornucopiaseeds.com.au. I've ordered a few times. Great prices, and great customer service.
06 Jun 08, Kent (Unknown climate)
The only place I have been able to find non hybird Burdock is Cornucopia Seeds and Plants, who sell on eBay. Also sometimes available from The Lost Seed, but not in stock there at the moment. A quick look on eBay just now shows also available from 4Seasons Seeds. Good luck!
04 Jun 08, andrea (Unknown climate)
would be wonderful if only i could access seeds. considering i'm apparently living in the 'hippy capital' of Australia, finding it a little frustrating that i can't locate any. CAN ANYONE HELP? poor student, but will offer minimal payment for good seed.
Showing 81 - 88 of 88 comments

When is the best time to plant burdock?

- M

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.