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blowin · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:54 am Post subject: wild garlic

Quite 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 Wink

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Camile · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:01 am Post subject:

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

blowin · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:14 pm Post subject:

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 . Wink

blowin · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:05 pm Post subject:

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 ? Laughing

Good luck

Camile · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject:

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

blowin · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:21 am Post subject:

gardener · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 34 Location: SW Ireland

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 )

blowin · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks , Gardener Wink

.
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 .