Comment cultiver l’armoise annuelle (Artemisia annua)

Jean-Yves Meigne, who cultivates a permaculture garden in the South of France, introduces us to this annual mugwort. He explains how to grow and use Artemisia annua, a plant with medicinal and antiviral properties recognized in traditional medicine. #artemisiaannua Sown in spring in the South of France, this plant, a member of the mugwort family, grows very quickly. Further north, sow Artemisia annua in a warm, sheltered area starting in March and planting directly in the ground in May. Jean-Yves Meigne uses this annual in his vegetable garden, among other things, because it provides good shade in the summer, protecting the herb plants and vegetables from the intense summer heat that is so common in this garden in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region. Another advantage in the garden is that Artemisia annua is also a repellent plant that helps control many harmful insects and protect vegetables. Originating from Africa, Artemisia annua is used as a medicinal plant, particularly against malaria. Annual mugwort is also cultivated as an aromatic plant: its leaves can be harvested fresh from June to September. However, they can be dried and stored for later use. At the end of cultivation, the biomass produced by this fast-growing annual can be recycled and composted.