I knew that indigo gives a good, flexible blue to those who know what they are doing.

I didn’t know that it gives fabric anti-bacterial and fireproofing qualities.

This short video shows some of the traditional Japanese processes involved in growing and using indigo.

I have read that indigo doesn’t grow well in northern climates, and if it does, it is unlikely that our summer will be long enough for the pigment to mature. This video emphasises the difference between the growing conditions in the part of Japan shown and East Yorkshire. They have a river running just below the surface, warming the soil.

I think I’ll stick to trying to grow woad.