Grow Japanese Indigo from Seed

I’m obsessed with the magical blue hues created from hand-dyeing fiber in an Indigo fermentation vat. This is the third year that I’ve grown Japanese Indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) in the high desert climate of Northern New Mexico. In general, Japanese Indigo seeds will thrive in fertile soil and full sun. Due to the clay soils in this region, I’ve found that Persicaria tinctoria is happiest to grow in containers – as long as you give them plenty of water! Japanese Indigo will grow in zones 2–11.

I start some of my seeds indoors in early spring about 6–8 weeks before last frost. I also plant seeds directly in large containers. After the seedlings have presented themselves, I weed out all but the most robust seedlings. If you’re transplanting in the ground, allow for 12” spacing between plants. Once the leaves have developed, you can harvest fresh Indigo leaves throughout the growing season. In the fall, you can collect the gorgeous pink seed pods. I save them and remove the chaff by rubbing the seed pods in a sieve. Share the extra seeds with your friends or local seed library!