When to plant Licorice in Cool Australia

Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Raise licorice seedlings under cover from September to November, transplanting out once frost has passed and the soil is warming. The hard seed of this hardy perennial legume (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is slow, germinating in 20–30 days, and is sown at 5 mm. Plant out 30–50 cm apart in rows about 60 cm apart, and settle in for the long haul: a harvestable root takes 365–730 days, or one to two full seasons. In cool gardens around Orange, Armidale and Ballarat, the plant dies down over winter and regrows each spring as the taproot slowly thickens.

Sowing calendar — cool zone

Green months are your sowing window: September to November.

Growing notes

Licorice is a patient gardener's crop, grown for the sweet taproot that takes at least a couple of years to reach a worthwhile size. It is hardy and copes with cool-climate frost, dying back in winter and returning each spring, but it will only reward you with a good root if given a deep, free-draining, well-worked bed. Heavy or shallow soils give thin, forked roots that are hard to lift and disappointing to harvest.

The main failure mode here is impatience and poor drainage. Gardeners often dig too early, before the root has bulked up over its full 365–730 day cycle, and end up with little to show; others lose plants to rot when a cold, wet winter sits on poorly drained ground. The fixes are to commit to leaving the plant in place for at least two seasons and to plant into a raised or sandy bed so winter wet drains away from the dormant crown.

Germination is also a hurdle, as the seed coat is hard and slow. Soaking seed overnight before sowing, and being patient across the 20–30 day window, improves your strike rate. Keep the bed weed-free while plants establish, water through dry summer spells, and resist the urge to disturb the roots until the plant has had its two years underground.

Licorice at a glance

Common questions

How long until I can harvest licorice root?

Plan on 365–730 days, or one to two full seasons, before the taproot is worth lifting. Licorice is slow to establish, and digging too early gives thin, disappointing roots, so patience is the main requirement.

Will licorice survive a cool-climate winter?

Yes. It is a hardy perennial that dies back over winter and regrows in spring, tolerating frost in gardens around Orange or Ballarat. The one caution is drainage, since a cold, wet winter on heavy soil can rot the dormant crown.

Why is my licorice seed slow to germinate?

The seed has a hard coat and naturally takes 20–30 days. Soaking it overnight before sowing softens the coat and improves germination, after which raise the seedlings under cover for planting out once frost has passed.

What soil does licorice need?

A deep, free-draining, well-worked bed. The plant is grown for its taproot, so shallow, heavy or waterlogged soil gives thin, forked roots and risks winter rot. A raised or sandy bed suits it best in a cool climate.

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