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.
  • Burdock flower (commons.wikimedia.org - George Chernilevsky - Public Domain)

Burdock grows wild on roadsides and waste places and around field boundaries throughout Britain, Europe and North America, and is cultivated in Japan. Grows to about 2 m (6 ft) high.

Has dark green leaves with a long tap root.

Keep watch for seed heads as it can become an invasive weed. The prickly balls were the inspiration for the inventor of 'Velcro', George de Mestra.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Burdock

Harvest in the first year when the burdock root is very crisp and has a sweet, mild, and pungent flavour with a little muddy harshness that can be reduced by soaking julienne/shredded roots in water for five to ten minutes. Immature flower stalks may also be harvested in late spring, before flowers appear; the taste resembles that of artichoke, to which the burdock is related.

It is a key ingredient in the traditional Dandelion and Burdock beer.

Your comments and tips

06 Apr 14, M (USA - Zone 8a climate)
When is the best time to plant burdock?
19 Jul 14, Lauren (USA - Zone 8b climate)
I just harvested and ate the burdock ( gobo) I planted earlier this year. I'd like to plant more seeds. Any advice? Do I need to wait for the temperature to cool down a bit? In case you are wondering, all of it ended up as kinpira. It was devoured immediately. It was far too yummy.
07 Oct 17, Tai (USA - Zone 4a climate)
I am living in Des Moines, Iowa. I would like to grow burdock plants but I do not know they could be coming back the next year whenever the cold winter over. Please, let me known. Thanks!
17 May 22, Winter (USA - Zone 6b climate)
Why do people plant Burdock? In my area, it grows everywhere and overtakes everything. It’s also impossible to pull w/ the hands, I have to dig them out to remove them. Genuine question, as there’s obviously a use for them if there’s a guide to growing them!
18 May 22, anonymous (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Read the notes about it - it explains it.

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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.
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