Feverfew on Our Farm: A Reliable Filler with a Sweet Daisy Look
A look at how Magic Single performed for us this season
Feverfew has become one of those crops I never regret making space for. It is dependable, cheerful, and honestly a breath of fresh air on the days when the rest of the field feels a little needy. We grow in southwest Michigan in zone 6, so everything I share here reflects how this crop performs in our climate. This year we grew the variety Magic Single from Johnnys Seeds and it reminded me why this one stays on my list. It is reliable for cutting and holds better than some of the more unusual varieties that tend to brown faster. When you are harvesting for mixed bouquets or wholesale, that consistency matters.
We started our seedlings indoors at the beginning of May and transplanted them into the field at the end of the month. With that timing we saw our first flowers at the beginning of July. It lined up nicely with the start of our busy summer harvests.
The best part about Magic Single is the habit. Once the plants settle in, they create a nice canopy that keeps weed pressure low. That alone feels like a win. Feverfew is one of the rows I barely have to tend once it is established. It is low maintenance in the truest sense.
The scent is a topic of debate and I get why. It is not floral at all. It leans herbal and a little odd. I do not mind it, but I know it is not for everyone. I just think the sweet daisy look more than makes up for it.
I do grow feverfew with netting. Harvesting through netting can be annoying but every time I skip it I end up with bent stems that are not usable for my needs. For me the trade off is worth it. Stems were tall and plentiful on the first flush and while the second flush later in summer was shorter it was still nice to have a bonus round of blooms.
In previous years I cut my plants back in fall but this season I decided to leave them standing and see what happens. Feverfew can be short lived but I am curious how it will respond in our field conditions here in zone 6. I will report back on what next year looks like.
I plan to succession plant feverfew next season so we have it coming on for a longer window. It is such a lovely filler in bouquets especially with that dainty daisy face that seems to brighten everything around it.
Feverfew may not be the flashiest crop in the field but it is dependable, charming, and generous. Magic Single has earned another year here and I am excited to keep refining how we grow it.
