Silybum marianum

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum )

Market Products: (seed, herb) Market size: 5,000 hectares (world), 500 ha (North America) Prospects: prices up, volume up

Culture Seed density: 42 seeds/gram Exposure: full sun Soil: well-drained Crop duration: 1 year

Sowing rate: 4-5 kg/ha (direct). Planting: sow direct in field in spring when soil temperature remains above 10 C. Field spacing: 70-80cm between rows x 20-30cm within rows. Yield: 1.5t/ha (year 1). Pests: tanymecus larva Diseases: erysiphe powdery mildew, botrytis grey mold. Buyers want: seed minimum 1% silymarin, maximum 2% foreign matter, maximum loss on drying 8%, maximum ash 8%.