gardencrazy
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Post by gardencrazy on Jun 26, 2011 14:24:02 GMT -5
For years I've fought two different types of sorrel, dandelions and lambs quarters. This year I just discovered purslane (the seeds must have come in with some soil amendments). This year I'm trying to find a symbiotic existence with those edible weeds.
So I'm letting these things grow, within reason, and I'm going to eat them. Hey, that's how I got my strawberry patch! I never planted a single strawberry. I've got over 12 cups of strawberries in the freezer because of it. I don't know how many we've eaten!
So what "weeds" are you trying to cultivate?
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Post by horsea on Jun 26, 2011 15:38:39 GMT -5
Well, that hinges on how you define "cultivate". For me, I will let purslane and lamb's quarters grow to a certain size, and then eat them while weeding. The LQ are way tastier. I only eat the purslane because it's supposed to be "good for you".
But I would never let them go to seed and then deliberately plant those seeds. That is a recipe for disaster.
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Post by spacecase0 on Jun 26, 2011 17:13:42 GMT -5
I a growing chuffa, it is good and most people think it is a weed
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gardencrazy
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Mmmmmm Homemade Bread!
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Post by gardencrazy on Jun 26, 2011 18:00:32 GMT -5
Hmmm, maybe cultivate was the wrong word. I am going to harvest the purslane, dandelion leaves, and lambs quarters and eat them!
I forgot to mention, I have two different types of mint growing too. Neither was planted. One is just on the outside of the garden (dangerously close though). The other grows in a swampy part of the yard 10-15' away from the garden.
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Post by horsea on Jun 26, 2011 18:33:16 GMT -5
Well, you are lucky that the mint is 10-15' away from your garden. My whole garden is on swampy land, which is why I have raised beds. And mint sneaks in everywhere, including by the rose bush (Coubert Double White). I could spend all day just plucking mint.
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Post by daylilydude on Jun 26, 2011 20:27:24 GMT -5
Poke weed is good with eggs!
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Post by pepperhead212 on Jun 26, 2011 21:31:34 GMT -5
Every season I have epazote growing in my garden, and it grows many other places as a weed around here, as well. I just make sure I leave them where I see them, and I'm set for the year. I also look for tomatillos in my garden, as volunteers. Sort of hard to spot amongst the weeds, but saves me planting them!
I've tried actually planting lamb's quarters, but had no luck. What kind of conditions do they like?
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gardencrazy
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Mmmmmm Homemade Bread!
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Post by gardencrazy on Jun 27, 2011 5:38:12 GMT -5
I've never planted lamb's quarters. The seeds must have come in with cow manure or top soil or garden soil I added to the garden (bought from big box stores.) Apparently, it loves shale and clay and soil that's a little acidic!
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Post by w8in4dave on Jun 27, 2011 23:06:30 GMT -5
hey DLD can you sticky this?? I'd so very love to keep an eye on what is edible and not ....... I know I am allergic to a lot of things but I'd love to take notes
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gardencrazy
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Post by gardencrazy on Jun 30, 2011 18:27:30 GMT -5
I forgot one, Amaranth. I planted it once. It comes up every year! I include some of the leaves with my greens. If its edible its good!
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Post by w8in4dave on Jun 30, 2011 19:51:10 GMT -5
Now see now Iam going to have to google some of this stuff!! Maby take some pics so I can see if I have it or not, lord knows I have tons of weeds out there.... just don't know if they are edible................Or if they are edible, if they are good
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peapicker
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Post by peapicker on Jul 3, 2011 13:55:44 GMT -5
Does Amaranth have red stems and thorns I have this very tall weed with many seeds that came in with chicken feed.
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Post by w8in4dave on Jul 5, 2011 22:09:25 GMT -5
Gosh I cannot remember the names of those lil purplish flowers that grow by the side of the road ..Chickory maybe??? I hear some do something with those ...
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gardencrazy
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Post by gardencrazy on Jul 6, 2011 7:55:59 GMT -5
Some amaranth does have red stems, but no thorns. I planted amaranth once (Love Lies Bleeding) and I've had it ever since! It's pretty. Its edible. Its good!
Yeah, those purplish flowers that grow by the side of the road are chicory. I've always wanted to dig some up and bring it home & plant it! You can grind up the roots and use it as a substitute for coffee.
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peapicker
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Post by peapicker on Jul 7, 2011 12:16:22 GMT -5
In the Gulf States the purple flowers growing by the side of the road are Verbena rigida I do not think they are edible I have not seen the Magdeberg type of Chicory growing here I have grown the Radicchio,Verona,Treviso and Whitloaf types during cool weather They all do better further north
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peapicker
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Post by peapicker on Jul 8, 2011 16:32:24 GMT -5
Has anyone eaten Chickweed,Henbit,Cleavers/goose grass/bedstraw,Pigweed,Violets,Knotweed,Nut grass or Dock They are the prominent weeds in my garden and all are said to be edible
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peapicker
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Post by peapicker on Jul 8, 2011 18:21:27 GMT -5
Gardencrazy, while searching Pigweed I came across Amaranthus spinosus It has two spines in each joint It appears to be what I have The spines are large and very sharp Thick gloves are deffinately needed
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gardencrazy
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Post by gardencrazy on Jul 9, 2011 8:41:27 GMT -5
Gardencrazy, while searching Pigweed I came across Amaranthus spinosus It has two spines in each joint It appears to be what I have The spines are large and very sharp Thick gloves are deffinately needed Pea Picker, I didn't realize! I just looked Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranth and Pigweed. Who knew there were so many varieties! Here's a little info on the type a chicory I was talking about. This is what we have by the roadsides all over in upstate NY. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicory
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peapicker
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Post by peapicker on Jul 9, 2011 11:23:44 GMT -5
Thanks GC I have a problem telling the Amaranthus from the Goosefoot family-Chenopodium except for Lambs Quarters,C.album I have a number of both here There is a great difference in seed appearance however
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peapicker
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Post by peapicker on Jul 12, 2011 14:01:33 GMT -5
Where are the weed eaters If things keep going the way they are now I may have to make a go at it. There are many recipes for Kudzu on the net I think I may try that as it is very plentiful along the hyways
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peppereater
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Post by peppereater on Jul 12, 2011 16:02:50 GMT -5
I'm not sure where you live, pea, but here there is greenbriar all over in the woods...most evil thing I've ever seen, but the young terminal leaves are delicious, somewhat like snowpea. I believe another name is sarsaparilla, (but not sasparilla). Also, redbud seedpods, at an early stage, are used like snowpeas by a few people who know about it. Dogwood berries are edible and have a faintly fruity taste. I absolutely love lambsquarters, I like them better than collards, mustard or turnip greens, for those of you who have not tried them. Amaranth is a serious pest weed here, we have the spinosa type. Cultivars of it are extremely desireable grain crops, with the complete range of proteins, one of the few vegetable products that do. The darned wild ones are very prolific producers of seed, thus the invasive nature, but I've not tried using the seed. Giant Amaranth was so sacred in Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquests that it was banned entirely with probably death as penalty for growing it, because the Spanish perceived that it was more revered than Christ. As for dock, I've not eaten it but one member of another site cultivates it and eats it constantly. He eats it for the health benefits and ease of cultivation, never really asked him about taste.
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peppereater
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Post by peppereater on Jul 12, 2011 16:12:14 GMT -5
Oh yeah, as to the violets, I don't recall alot of flavor, but they are great to use with other greens for salad, the cultivated Pansy (viola)) is used as a garnish at upscale restaurants, quite a dramatic effect, as are nasturtiums (Yum!) In Mexico, epazote is common in vacant lots and such, my friends there pick a small amount any time they walk past some, it's a nice seasoning and very widely used. Epazote in beans is said to be the best way to reduce the gassiness beans can cause.
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peapicker
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Post by peapicker on Jul 12, 2011 20:06:35 GMT -5
It is funny you mentioned Greenbrire/Smilax I had a runin with one yesterday while chasing a dog and half my arm is scared. I dug one up a few years ago and the root must have weighed 10 lbs. I have saved it as I hear they make excelent subjects for carving I have eaten the young shoots and they taste like asparagus to me. No Espazote for me.I hate the smell
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Post by sorellina on Jul 19, 2011 12:58:25 GMT -5
Ciao all-
I have 2 kinds of amaranth that I planted on purpose this year: Molten Fire and Joseph's Coat. The leaves are amazing in salads and also Asian soups, plus they're extremely attractive. I also read somewhere that if you put amaranth around your cucurbits, you will deter cucumber beetles. It's worth a shot.
I get a lot of volunteer brassicas in my garden. I leave them to flower and then harvest the flowers for soups and salads. They're also supposed to deter cucumber beetles.
I get a lot of purslane, chicory, and lambs quarters. Sometimes I add the purslane and lamb's quarters to salads, but not all that often as I have a lot of things I've purposely planted that I prefer. I also get a lot of extra borage sprouts that are ok at the 1 set of true leaf stage, but after that, they get pretty prickly. I tried growing red orach on purpose, but got very little of it to germinate.
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littleminnie
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Post by littleminnie on Jul 27, 2011 18:59:46 GMT -5
Ciao all- I have 2 kinds of amaranth that I planted on purpose this year: Molten Fire and Joseph's Coat. The leaves are amazing in salads and also Asian soups, plus they're extremely attractive. I also read somewhere that if you put amaranth around your cucurbits, you will deter cucumber beetles. It's worth a shot. I get a lot of volunteer brassicas in my garden. I leave them to flower and then harvest the flowers for soups and salads. They're also supposed to deter cucumber beetles. I get a lot of purslane, chicory, and lambs quarters. Sometimes I add the purslane and lamb's quarters to salads, but not all that often as I have a lot of things I've purposely planted that I prefer. I also get a lot of extra borage sprouts that are ok at the 1 set of true leaf stage, but after that, they get pretty prickly. I tried growing red orach on purpose, but got very little of it to germinate. Almost all of what you said is me too! Tons of purslane this year and always the lamb's quarters but can't grow orach either which is almost the same. I have vast amounts of milkweed and tried to eat the baby shoots last year and it was a disaster.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2011 2:23:02 GMT -5
Nettles, nettles and more nettles! Do any of you eat them? Oh my, better for you than spinach! 40% protein by leaf volume loaded with nutrients....liquid gold for your garden, rot em and add it! Works just like a manure! If you have trouble laying hens, this will improve the eggs plus the frequency they lay eggs, have a horse, watch the coat get shiny and the horse is healthier, same with cows.
I use nettles for all kinds of things..oh yes, Nettle pizza, omelets or as a buttery sauteed veggie...so very good for you..cooking removes the sting.
For those with medical concerns...always check with your doc to make sure of medicine conflicts but Nettle is a great tea pain reliever, good for thinning hair, color restorative, anti wrinkle, excema and skin conditions, gout, prostate health, for salves and oils for pain relief and moisturizing...oh this is one VERY USEFUL AND MISUNDERSTOOD WEED! How to contain, just cut them, do not let them flower and they only spread from roots underground. Want to contain them? Plant them in a large pot or upraised beds with no flowering or seeding allowed. They can be cut and cut and cut. They even used the tough fibers in the stalks to make cloth...sheets....amazing uses! There are so many good useful and nutritious weeds...talk about survival plants...this one in dry form is so light weight, great for back packing and camping!
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Post by stratcat on Sept 3, 2011 23:30:10 GMT -5
Hi, Romy.
Two or three times I tried to naturalize Stinging Nettle in my backyard from plants I dug in the wild to no avail. I've had too many intruders back there.
Last year I was pulling a small weed from one of my container Petunias and grabbed a Nettle! I chewed and applied some Plantain from the lawn to soothe the burn. I left the Nettle alone and it survived the winter. Growing in a pot, it is acting as a sentry out at the sidewalk by my Cottage Garden.
My friend's barnyard garden has 2-meter tall Nettle growing around and in. Not pleasant brushing against those on bare legs! ;D
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Post by w8in4dave on Sept 4, 2011 7:44:03 GMT -5
Not to change the subject from nettle, Because I have tried that, alot of stuff on the net about it. I have tons of it by the creek. But I was going to say I have a pickling Recipe for Purslane if anyone wants it .
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2011 19:10:08 GMT -5
w8n4dave..... HOW do you pickle purslane. I have a LOT in the garden and usually eat it raw in salads or put it into the soup pot as a pot herb. We have a Chinese friend who pickles it, but I don't know how. It contains the same essential oil as does salmon & flaxseed...ie. omega-3 oil. NUTRITIOUS!!!!!!!
Do you eat Lambs Quarters or Poke Weed??? I do........ also VERRRY nutritious. LarryD
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Post by organicbaby on Sept 8, 2011 18:08:05 GMT -5
This is the first year I've had lamb's quarters coming up all year. Seems every time we spade in some compost to plant something new little LQ will germinate/grow right after...even in our horrid heat last month! Didn't hurt my feelings at all ...more salad greens!
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