Not being “fortunate” to have a Meadow nearby with wild flowers growing like crazy, I ordered packets of dandelion seeds. I started them a couple of weeks ago and now the sprouts look almost ready to transplant outside. The plan?
Dandelion salad of course! Those not sure what I’m talking about, this is a reference to The Hunger Games
Didn’t know that you can eat dandelions? Neither did I, until I read that book. I always thought it was just a pesky weed with a pretty flower. People who have a hard time getting rid of them must think I’m insane for purposely introducing them to my yard, but I just have to know what it tastes like. Growth time is quick, so I should be able to harvest some greens within a month.
[ratings]
It’s so funny that something that my father has spent years trying to get rid of from our backyard is now something that people eat. Well, I mean “now” in the least time-constraining way possible. I’m sure people have been eating dandelion leaves for ages.
PS, awesome site!
It’s even more funny that I had to go and BUY dandelion seeds. Next year I’ll probably be cursing myself. But then again, our yard is already full of weeds, at least dandelions would be edible…
The entire dandelion is edible. Dandelion is a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. The leaves can be used for salads, sandwiches, and teas. The roots can be found in some coffee substitutes or boiled for tea, and the flowers are used to make wine.
I’ve read as much and am pretty amazed about that. If I hadn’t read Hunger Games I’d have never have known that.
I’ve eaten the leaves, but what does the flower taste like?
I’ve heard it makes really good jelly. ^^
Haha, I’m having a really hard time wrapping my head around a jelly made from a “vegetable”. Let me know if you find any recipes!
wow the title kind of threw me off but i thought maybe it could be the salad of dandelion from the hunger games . . .and it was!!!
awesome
WOW
My students & I eat dandelions every time I teach this novel. They are plentiful here in Illinois…I would have gladly sent you some! The greens are good when they are young, but they get very bitter tasting after the flower has bloomed. And once the plant starts to seed, I would not eat it at all. Theresa is absolutely correct – very nutritious. It is sad that we treat this plant like such a nuisance when it is more nourishing than most the things we eat! My husband allows me to keep a patch behind the garage; the rest of the yard he treats for weeds. 🙁
Finally, something in my disastrous pit of death that I call a garden that I can eat 😀