"I planted out in early April," says Victoria, who received her Hypericum plugs in a Week 14 shipment with Lemon Verbena; Lisianthus Mariachi Pure White (group 2); Lisianthus Arena Apricot (group 3); and Rudbeckia Triloba. 

“They went directly into the field, under plastic at first. We used a RowMaker to transplant.” 

Regardless of your location, Hypericum should be planted in the short days of the year (Spring or Fall). Short days allow the plant to put on vegetative growth before long days initiate flowering.

“I had them under irrigation until we had to rip up our driveway and have it redone in September, when I cut off the irrigation,” Victoria shared. “We had a drought in June, and another that began in September, and the plants are still going crazy. The recent drought was not as hard on the plants, because it wasn’t as hot.” 

We recommend overhead watering in addition to drip irrigation for two weeks after the transplant of plugs, as their roots are still too small to reach for water from drip irrigation.

For the best yield, Hypericum should be pinched to a minimum of 7-10 internodes from the plant’s base (at least a month after planting.) Pinching allows side stems to grow, increasing your harvest of bright berries. 

"Our soil has such a sandy consistency, I fell in love with it!," says Victoria. "When we first got the farm, I grabbed the dirt and was just like look at the DIRT! I used a 1-gallon fertilizer on the Hypericum rows, and all I used was good old Jack's All-Purpose. I fertilized once a week. It seems like they like it here." 

Victoria's Hypericum plants grew 3.5 feet (1.06 meters) tall in one season. She transplanted her plugs in April and the plants flowered in June, with berries appearing in July. In early November, Victoria was still harvesting her Hypericum. “I'm pulling berries off them to use for a wine dinner tonight!"

Harvest your Hypericum fruits when about 80% of the berries on the branch are ripe and colored, and almost all of the foliage has dropped.

Cut back to just a couple of inches, to allow them to regrow. You should be able to get 2 to 3 harvests per season from your plants.

Harvest in the early morning before conditions become too hot.  Harvest directly into water with holding solution, and remove all foliage from the lower third of the branch.

I plan to overwinter the plants," says Victoria.  "Our conditions are kind of windy on the farm, so I do have them in a semi-protected area - one side is an open field and one side is protected. I plan on using a low tunnel and Ag-19 (floating row cover).  I have struggled with Ag-19 because of the wind, but if I use soft weights as opposed to bricks it doesn't rip as badly. Going to steal all the oak tree leaves and mulch them in."