{"product_id":"oyster-leaf","title":"Oyster Leaf (Mertensia maritima) Seeds","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOyster leaf is a chef's herb with a flavour like no other: thick, blue-grey leaves that taste of oysters, salty and mineral, with no shellfish in sight.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eMertensia maritima\u003c\/em\u003e is a low, sprawling coastal plant native to northern shores, including Britain, also known as sea bluebells. Its fleshy, waxy leaves are joined in summer by sprays of small sky-blue flowers that open from pink buds. Eat the leaves raw with fish and seafood or in salads.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSowing and growing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeeds cold to germinate: sow in gritty compost in autumn or winter and leave in a cold frame, or chill sown pots in the fridge for 4 to 6 weeks before moving them to 15 to 20°C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDepth: 5mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGermination: slow and erratic, from three weeks to several months\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePosition: full sun in very free-draining, sandy or gritty soil; ideal in a pot or raised bed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight: about 20cm, with a spread of 30cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest: pick leaves sparingly once plants are established, spring to autumn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHardy perennial; protect from slugs and snails from the moment seedlings appear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat you receive:\u003c\/strong\u003e a packet of 5 seeds from Piccolo Seeds, with growing instructions on the back. Sow each seed in its own small pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOyster leaf sits well with the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/exotic-edibles\"\u003eexotic edibles\u003c\/a\u003e. Find pots and gritty seed compost in \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/propagation\"\u003epropagation\u003c\/a\u003e, and browse all our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/seeds\"\u003eseeds\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Piccolo Seeds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58915710370175,"sku":"PS1061","price":2.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/67951c597702c9feae9c2046f3dcb8676bcd4a3059ea0236a1ed2def62dbc096.png?v=1792743635","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/oyster-leaf","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}