| Archive for countrytalkandtips.myfreeforum.org ........................ smallholding, crafts and country life ................................................... IN IRELAND ....................................................... |
| blowin |
wild garlicQuite a common wild plant with a bright white flower and strong smell of garlic when you walk on it .It is not strongly recommended for cooking but there is a thread over on RC where Mystic Tree says " They are really nice wilted and dressed with butter to go with most meats. If you catch the seed pods before the seeds set their coating, you get a sort of garlic caviare effect. Really nice in salads and pickles." The unopened flower heads are said to be good , too , eaten raw . Worth a try , I'd say  .
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| Camile |
Hello,
can I get some of it to replant ? I can pick them up this weekend if needs be ! they are the best wormer you could find too, including for us ... Camile |
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| blowin |
Hi Camile ,
There is plenty of it growing on the riverbanks around here . You are welcome to as much as you like . I'd say it will be a week or so before it flowers . Not the best time for transplanting but I'd give it a go anyway . Just be sure to leave a good sized lump of soil around the roots . I can point out the Pig Nut plants at the same time . The tubers on those won't be ready for a while but at least you will know what to look for . And don't forget Ground Elder . That is ready to eat now . Just cook and serve as you would Spinach . It has quite a "different " , slightly perfumed flavour . One of the better wild veg IMHO .
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| blowin |
One type of wild garlic AKA "Ramsons " . That is the one I have around here .
http://www.irishwildflowers.ie/pages/282a.html There is also a type which looks more like Chives , with very thin leaves , but I haven't found any of that yet . http://images.google.ie/images?hl...&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2 Pignut : http://www.irishwildflowers.ie/pages/119a.html and http://images.google.ie/images?gbv=2&hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&q=pignut&spell=1 Be aware that this plant is a member of the family which includes eg wild celery and carrots ie edibles , but also includes the extremely poisonous Mandrake . There is little chance of misidentification once you know what the distinctive Pignut tuber looks like but , as usual , it is best to go out with an experienced forager to begin with . Ground Elder : http://www.irishwildflowers.ie/pages/212a.html No Truffles I am afraid but perhaps your old man could send us a few ? 
Good luck |
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| Camile |
Hello,
Foraging course this weekend it is then ! I must say I know nothing about that so I'm glad to have an expert beside us ! As for my old man, I'm affraid he doesn't find truffles, but his main crop are chanterelles, cepes and the black ones like the chanterelles (death trumpet he calls them) ... Camile |
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| blowin |
At a guess those are what we know as " Horn of Plenty" . If you can find the three types you mention it would hardly be worth bothering with anything else . Except Horse Mushrooms . And Hedgehog fungi . And Blewits , maybe ......... Plenty of fungi in the fields and herbs in the hedge . Fun to find . Enjoyable to eat  .
But don't believe everything I say . I am certainly not an expert . The main reason I haven't poisoned myself yet is that I always get someone else to try any new things first !
Usually MOH , as it happens , but please don't draw any conclusions from that or I will be the one who gets killed .
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| gardener |
Hi blowin - I think your second, Chive-like one could be Crow Garlic - though I'm still waiting for the plants in the photos to flower to be 100% sure......
http://www.irishwildflowers.ie/pages/589a.html Crow Garlic / Wild Onion (Allium vineale ) |
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| blowin |
Thanks , Gardener .
Camile collected a nice clump of the Ramsom type . Might loose a few from around the edges but the majority should transplant ok as we were able to dig well below the roots . Tried some of the flower heads which hadn't yet opened . Nice texture . Good flavour , a cross between shop garlic and scallions . Definitely an interesting addition to a mixed salad . Spoke to several old-time locals all of whom thought you could use it in cooking but had never tried . They didn't know it as a wormer but did point out that cattle can't get enough of it --- but it taints their milk to the extent that it is undrinkable . They didn't know whether it would have the same effect on chickens and eggs . |
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