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Wild Garlic - should I bother???
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Message 1.Â
Posted by sparklepinksunflower (U10977805) on Monday, 7th February 2011
I picked up some wild garlic bulbs at a seed swap yesterday. Having second thoughts about it. Is it worth planting or should I just get some "proper" garlic instead?
What do you think?
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Message 2
Posted by pjgolf (U2469936) on Monday, 7th February 2011
Not sure about this. I live in the lake district and there is loads of wild garlic in spring along road sides and around the lakes. I`m presuming that it`s pretty invasive because it`s everywhere !
The leaves smell great and you can use them in cooking but I`m not sure about planting it at home. If you have a shady spot somewhere on the attlotment or garden then I suppose it would be worth a go.
PJ -
Message 3
Posted by northwards (U14324094) on Monday, 7th February 2011
If you're talking about what are also called ramsons, then PJ is definitely right. It can be a real thug. It needs the right conditions (like damp woodland) but once it gets its feet under the table you'll have problems getting rid of it
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Message 4
Posted by sparklepinksunflower (U10977805) on Tuesday, 8th February 2011
I thought it was pretty invasive stuff. I think it will just go on the compost heap.
there were a few things at the seep swap that were dubious and badly labled.
Lots of enthusiastic but inexperienced gardeners swapping seeds that were either from F1 plants or trying to swap things like plum stones.
Got a few interesting bits and had a nice chat with some other gardeners though so a good afternoon on the whole -
Message 5
Posted by northwards (U14324094) on Tuesday, 8th February 2011
Sounds an interesting afternoon - hope you put them right about the F1 seeds etc., etc
Not sure if I should be recommending this, but between you and me, if you find the right place you can pick a little wild garlic from woodland. If you just pick off a few leaves from the top of the plant you shouldn't harm it. I've never cooked with it but it goes very nicely in salads etc -
Message 6
Posted by Calendula (U2331338) on Tuesday, 8th February 2011
I maintain a small patch of it in a shady part of the garden. I'm determined not to let it get out of hand and so far (after 5 or so years) I seem to be succeeding. What I love about is it that it's one of the earliest edible things to come up - once you are harvesting it you know spring isn't far away. Plus the white flowers are very pretty. I slice it finely and stir into omelettes.
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Message 7
Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Tuesday, 8th February 2011
Between here and there is a road through a wooded valley and the ransoms are everywhere, in the season the scent practically takes your breath away. Me and 'er call it "Garlic dip", no-one who works with her seems to geddit ! Cheers, Tony.
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Message 8
Posted by monicaddavis (U14410596) on Tuesday, 8th February 2011
I would say NO, as it spreads everywhere, & you would need alot of it. Best to go out into the countryside, pick the leaves & make your pesto, & salads from that, all for free.
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Message 9
Posted by ageing_hippie (U6742113) on Tuesday, 8th February 2011
I have a small patch of wild garlic in deep shade under an ancient Bramley. They cause no trouble there and they are a real treat in early spring, but I used to do some work in a large garden that was overrun with them. It was a lost cause.
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Message 10
Posted by Sean (U14407190) on Wednesday, 9th February 2011
i have a small clump under a little willow tree in my postage stamp size garden, they have been there about 3 years and to be honest they have not spread as much as i would have liked, my idea was a clump around the base of the trunk of a small standard willow to add interest and something edible.
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Message 11
Posted by sparklepinksunflower (U10977805) on Thursday, 10th February 2011
HI Northwards, yes it was a lovely afternoon, i have been for the last few years.
Its realy quite hit and miss about what seeds are there. Nearly always lots of seeds that are abundant in the garden. Poppies, hollyhocks, sunflowers, lychinis, love in the mist, aqualigias and then veg like kale and lettuce etc.
I always have a sort out of my seed tin and try and take some interesting seeds, I am not sure everyone has exactly the same thoughts as me and the same stuff seems to come out year after year.
I suprise my self with my gardening knowledge sometimes when chatting to other gardeners!! and yes spoke about F1's, different rook stocks, how promiscous pumpkins etc are, and all sorts of other stuff.
Mentioned these boards to a couple of people too
None of my friends are really into gardening or even have gardens so its nice to get out there and have a chat with people
My dad has lots of wild garlic round him, but in central london there are not too meny places round here where it grows. I have eaten the flowers though before - there were delicous. You would not believe the price my friend paid for garlic flowers and pea shoots at Borough Market but it ran into double figures!!!
Maybe I will plant a couple of the bubls for the flowers -
Message 12
Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Monday, 14th February 2011
You can plant them but your neighbours and friends will soon not love you very much, so make the best of them while you can.
We went on holiday to Guernsay and few years ago, and parts of the island are completely overun with wild garlic, it has become a real problem, pushing out all sorts of local plants - it can be as invasive as any weed you can think of.
If you really must, then use a large pot, and keep it on gravel so that you can see and removed dropped seeds that sprout.
Personally I would not touch it woth a barge pole as far as the garden is concerned, and this is someone who has planted lily of the valley on purpose!! -
Message 13
Posted by Lisa (U14598429) on Wednesday, 16th February 2011
Is it something you could grow in a pot to stop it from taking over?
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Message 14
Posted by Sanducho (U14788951) on Thursday, 17th February 2011
I live in Seville and half our garlic crop will be wild and half proper, why?
To us the proper one looks the business and is good to use for dishes that are of a garlic flavour. When we pick the wild garlic we that bake them whole until you feel the flesh inside is soft, 45 mins aprox. We then squeeze all the soft flesh into a bowl. blitz it with a hand blender, place in jars and the result is a wonderful mild garlic paste that can be used for a sweeter result, and it keeps all year.
Sanduch -
Message 15
Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Friday, 18th February 2011
Sparklepinkflower, do not put any garlic seeds or bulbs in the compost heap. They will love it and you will end up with wild garlic everywhere.
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Message 16
Posted by Vulnerable Bede (U14285087) on Monday, 28th February 2011
I would say no too. You must keep it back as it spreads like wild, well, garlic.
I love this time of the year when everything is just about ready to pop up and year after year when I pass the same places out on my club rambles and note just how more of it pervades the country-side which bothers me not as I come back with loads of it.
Get yourself out and about and you'd be surprised to find just how near it could be growing near you. -
Message 17
Posted by Papa Nopsis (U14479902) on Wednesday, 2nd March 2011
Here is one of the best Garlic /Allium/onion photo sites i can find for making a choice.
Otherwise look up wiki/allium or wiki Chives, or wiki Wildgarlic !
Every Allium species seems to have its own page
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Message 18
Posted by akamolly (U2268592) on Wednesday, 9th March 2011
I remember reading on the food board that in continental Europe they could not eat wild garlic as foxes loved to pee on it and many foxes are rabid. Not sure if this is a rural myth or not.
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Message 19
Posted by Papa Nopsis (U14479902) on Wednesday, 9th March 2011
I think the thing about wild garlic is that it probably takes longer to reach its full size and flowering capacity than it would in your own garden.
It would be nice to let garlic grow wild in one's own garden but probably impatience would get the upper hand and you would want to do something else with the soil. Wild garlic has been there for n years. If you have got a bit of garden you never ever use for anything else then it might be viable to grow them like Daffodils, increasing a little every year, mysteriously splitting, self propagating a little, to produce more bulbs and more flowers whilst they are there dormant beneath your garden grass. -
Message 20
Posted by margaretstar (U14415248) on Wednesday, 9th March 2011
I can assure you that it is loved and eaten in Europe.
It is just washed thoroughly. The same with bilberries which foxes - rabid or otherwise - also love. -
Message 21
Posted by Vulnerable Bede (U14285087) on Tuesday, 22nd March 2011
I went walking up Weardale today and was rewarded at the end of the 12 miler with a host of heavenly green leaves saying "pick me, pick me!" near a riverbank.
Shredded and added some to my mushroom tortelini for tonight's dinner
Anyone else been picking nature's harvest just recently? -
Message 22
Posted by As_Iff (U13951957) on Tuesday, 22nd March 2011
I`ve been wondering if wild garlic is edible. Now I know. Thanks PJ
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Message 23
Posted by As_Iff (U13951957) on Tuesday, 22nd March 2011
Oh dear, thanks to everyone else who posted about eating wild garlic too! I don`t know how I managed to miss reading so many posts.
I must need new glasses,
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Message 24
Posted by Papa Nopsis (U14479902) on Wednesday, 23rd March 2011
You talk about "nature's harvest" and wild animals doing things to "wild" garlic, but they would equally well do it on your garden crops. such ideas are foolish.
One of the Supermarkets selling ploys for "mushrooms" is to sell "Wild" mushrooms.
I enquired where they were picked, and suggested that their "wild" mushrooms
looked very much like a commons species of mushroom that was being cultivated commercially. They were offended at the suggestion, the truth hurting as it often does.
Another so called "Organic" greengrocer, a thieving individual if ever there was one, was selling "wild" mushrooms for about £6.50 a kg, which is about twice the usual price.
I was advised by an ignoramus that I should not eat "wild" mushrooms picked in the fields, as this was a crime, and that you could only get "wild" mushrooms in the shops these days!
Such is business trickery, but always ensure that the wild garlic really does smell of garlic! i picked the leaf of grape hyacinth the other day wondering whether it was some of my Garlic and got a bitter surprise.
Look all animals, I sample before I eat. Ask Ray Mears! -
Message 25
Posted by Papa Nopsis (U14479902) on Wednesday, 23rd March 2011
You talk about "nature's harvest" and wild animals doing things to "wild" garlic, but they would equally well do it on your garden crops. Such ideas are foolish. Wash everything well before you eat.
One of the Supermarkets selling ploys for "mushrooms" is to sell "Wild" mushrooms.
I enquired where they were picked, and suggested that their "wild" mushrooms
looked very much like a commons species of mushroom that was being cultivated commercially. They were offended at the suggestion, the truth hurting as it often does.
Another so called "Organic" greengrocer, a thieving individual if ever there was one, was selling "wild" mushrooms for about £6.50 a kg, which is about twice the usual price.
I was advised by an ignoramus that I should not eat "wild" mushrooms picked in the fields, as this was a crime, and that you could only get "wild" mushrooms in the shops these days! They are wise to consumerism aren't they?!
Such is business trickery, but always ensure that the wild garlic really does smell of garlic! I picked the leaf of grape hyacinth the other day wondering whether it was some of my Garlic and got a bitter surprise.
Like all animals, I sample before I eat. Ask Ray Mears! -
Message 26
Posted by Vulnerable Bede (U14285087) on Wednesday, 23rd March 2011
Unless there are issues with sense of smell, you shouldn't really confuse wild garlic with other plants. When walking I normally smell it before I come across it!
I would only have it picked wild as if I was to home grow it would only give it the chance to take over my allotment. No way!
Later this year will await the the wild mushroom season and once again reap nature's harvest ( I have a book which I check them with before they go in my risotto) as also myself and walking pals collect windfall apples from empty holiday properties in the Yorkshire and Lake District areas.
I therefor have no issues with shop bought 'wild produce' as I would never buy it.
My favourite freebie is when I pioneer the walk a few months before I check out the best pub with the best choice of ale, tell the landlord (and later email) when our coach of 56 walkers will be coming in (usually around 4.00pm when most pubs are quiet) who then tend to lay on free snacks for the extra business and a free pint for me... my bitter surprise! Happy days.
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