They can be nibbled off the white puffy parachute tops, or pinched off and gathering in quality to be made into seed milk. And unless we've been exposed to eating plants that are seen as common garden weeds, and had them prepared for us, we're probably not likely to try to eat them on our own. Plant bee-friendly plants in your garden and landscaping. The plant can also be used as a topical poultice for minor cuts, burns, or rashes, and can be made into a tea for use as a mild diuretic.Mallow, or malva, is also known as cheeseweed, due to the shape of its seed pods, and can be found in many lawns or garden beds across the US. Purchase We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Being a gardener, I can tell you that the dandelion “weed” is of the tap root variety and does a fantastic job of de-compacting your soil.
Or cook the mature leaves just like spinach. The seeds of the wild amaranth can be gathered and cooked just like store-bought amaranth, either as a cooked whole grain or as a ground meal, and while it does take a bit of time to gather enough to add to a meal, they can be a a good source of free protein.Curly dock (also called yellow dock) leaves can be eaten raw when young, or cooked when older, and added to salads or soups. Try Prime Hello, Sign in Account & Lists Sign in Account & Lists Orders Try Prime Cart. The Dandelion Plant is an incredible and versatile wild edible. It’s true! If raw dandelion leaves don't appeal to you, they can also be steamed or added to a stir-fry or soup, which can make them taste less bitter. This post may contain affiliate links. Prepare them like any other greens. Also do not eat plants that have been treated with garden chemicals.
Historically, Europeans brought dandelions to America as a food crop but now it is considered to be one of the most annoying weeds plaguing the suburban lawn. The slightly bitter leaves are a rich source of iron and vitamins A, B1, B2, and C. (Just to be safe, select a dandelion that has not been exposed to chemicals or pollutants.) )Collect the roots ideally after a light rain as they can be a little difficult to pull out without breaking. And it's too bad, really, as many of the common garden weeds are not only edible and nutritious, but can be a great homegrown (and free) addition to our meals.Part of the resistance to eating plants that we believe to be weeds, in my opinion, is that we are conditioned to only consider the items we find in the grocery store as food, and not things that the rest of the neighborhood sees as unwelcome invaders in lawns and gardens. The flowers are sweet and crunchy, and can be eaten raw, or breaded and fried, or even used to make dandelion syrup or wine. 1. 2. Separate out the small achenes and plant individually. Once in a while, we might come across dandelion greens or purslane for sale in the produce section of the grocery store, or the farmers market, but for the most part, many common edible garden weeds aren't available anywhere else except for our lawns or garden beds. The stems of the dock plant can be peeled and eaten either cooked or raw, and the mature seeds can be boiled, or eaten raw, or roasted to make a coffee substitute. You may want to bring along a tool to dig them out. Dandelion Growing in Flower Garden So, what are you waiting for? Jonathan Davis is from Ohio and has been studying, practicing, and teaching organic gardening and permaculture for over 20 years.
Did you know, for instance, that the leaves, flowers and roots of dandelion are edible or that the dandelion has purported medicinal properties? Yes, and the nice thing is that 100% of the dandelion is edible! Purslane is a succulent, with a crispy texture, and the leaves and stems can be eaten raw or cooked to add a peppery flavor to any dish.Other than the occasional four-leafed clover hunt, this common lawn weed goes mostly unnoticed, even though it is becoming The young shoots and leaves of Lamb's Quarters (also known as goosefoot) can be eaten raw in any vegetable dish, or sauteed or steamed and used anywhere spinach is called for. And that's a shame.Although the edible weeds that you can find in your yard might be different ones than the ones I find in my yard, due to weather, soil conditions, and geography, here are some of the most common garden weeds that can be used for both meals and medicine:The quintessential garden and lawn weed, dandelions have a bad reputation among those who want grass that looks as uniform as a golf course, but every part of this common edible weed is tasty both raw and cooked, from the roots to the blossoms.