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As part of my renewed interest in gardening and field botany I have been focusing on relearning things I once knew and forgot, like all the useful weeds growing out there..
This time of year in CT the plants are just waking up and starting to grow., we still get freezing nights so planting is not an option. But amazingly theres a bunch of edible weeds and plants coming up already. My egyptian onions and wild scallions are up, Theres plenty of dandelions in my yard, My garlic chives are growing, as are the plantains here. My chicory is started up and I have transplanted a ton of seedlings i sowed outdoors in the fall. Wild grape leaves are just starting to open, and the maples are in flower, soon the leaves will be open. All of these plants are edible and usable. By far though the most common weed here in my yard this time of year is Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata). This plant was brought over from Europe in the 1800's. It was prized as an herb and medicinal plant as well as a food.,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliaria_petiolata
In North America it is a problem as it is poisonous to some rare butterflies, inhibits beneficial soil fungus and crowds out native plants. Nothing really eats it here... but we can.
Its leaves smell like garlic and its slightly bitter. The whole plant is edible, even the roots which can make a great horse radish sauce substitute. Today I picked a bunch of leave and made an awesome pesto,with olive oil and fresh home made garlic bread,, wow...tasty.
al
This time of year in CT the plants are just waking up and starting to grow., we still get freezing nights so planting is not an option. But amazingly theres a bunch of edible weeds and plants coming up already. My egyptian onions and wild scallions are up, Theres plenty of dandelions in my yard, My garlic chives are growing, as are the plantains here. My chicory is started up and I have transplanted a ton of seedlings i sowed outdoors in the fall. Wild grape leaves are just starting to open, and the maples are in flower, soon the leaves will be open. All of these plants are edible and usable. By far though the most common weed here in my yard this time of year is Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata). This plant was brought over from Europe in the 1800's. It was prized as an herb and medicinal plant as well as a food.,
Garlic mustard is one of the oldest spices used in Europe. Phytoliths in pottery of the Ertebølle and Funnelneck-Beaker culture in north-eastern Germany and Denmark, dating to 4100–3750 BCE,[26] indicate its use in that era.
In the 17th-century Britain, it was recommended as a flavouring for salt fish. It can also be made into a sauce for eating with roast lamb or salad.[7] Early European settlers brought the herb to the New World to use as a garlic-type flavouring. Its traditional medicinal purposes include use as a diuretic.[27] The herb was also planted as a form of erosion control.[28]
Today, the chopped leaves are used for flavouring in salads and sauces such as pesto, and sometimes the flowers and fruit are included as well. The leaves, best when young, taste of both garlic and mustard. The seeds are sometimes used in France to season food.[27] Garlic mustard was once used medicinally[29] as a disinfectant or diuretic, and was sometimes used to treat wounds.[27]
In the 17th-century Britain, it was recommended as a flavouring for salt fish. It can also be made into a sauce for eating with roast lamb or salad.[7] Early European settlers brought the herb to the New World to use as a garlic-type flavouring. Its traditional medicinal purposes include use as a diuretic.[27] The herb was also planted as a form of erosion control.[28]
Today, the chopped leaves are used for flavouring in salads and sauces such as pesto, and sometimes the flowers and fruit are included as well. The leaves, best when young, taste of both garlic and mustard. The seeds are sometimes used in France to season food.[27] Garlic mustard was once used medicinally[29] as a disinfectant or diuretic, and was sometimes used to treat wounds.[27]
In North America it is a problem as it is poisonous to some rare butterflies, inhibits beneficial soil fungus and crowds out native plants. Nothing really eats it here... but we can.
Its leaves smell like garlic and its slightly bitter. The whole plant is edible, even the roots which can make a great horse radish sauce substitute. Today I picked a bunch of leave and made an awesome pesto,with olive oil and fresh home made garlic bread,, wow...tasty.
al
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