Did you know that weeds are not always a bad thing? A weed is any plant that grows where you do not want it to. A rose bush in a corn field may be beautiful, but it's still a weed. With all the rain we've had lately, the weeds will be going crazy, but you shouldn't toss them out or poison them off just yet. Some of them are great and safe to eat. Here are a few edible weeds that you can find all over the place.
Crow Garlic as the name suggests tastes like garlic. It's bulbs can be harvested pretty much all year, but the leaves are also edible (if a bit stringy).
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| from treknature.com |
Shepherd's Purse is a very common weed around the Gulf Coast. Though it's rarely consumed here, it's widely cultivated in other parts of the world. It has a cabbage-like flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked. In addition, its seed is a natural mosquito killer. Place the seed in a cup of water. The mosquitoes are attracted to the seed, but get stuck to it because of the seed's gummy texture. The seed also releases a toxic substance that kills mosquito larvae. For humans, it's used as regular food, but also as a diarrhea cure.
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| from purdue.edu |
Yellow Sorrel is an easily recognized weed, but don't underestimate it. The leaves can be used to soothe insect bites and stings. In addition, both the flower and leaves are edible. Use it in salads.
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| from conservation-issues.co.uk |
Dandelions are one of the most recognizable weeds. The leaves have heaps of vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, they're a bit bitter, so mix it in with some spring greens for a nice salad. You can also eat the flowers, or use them to make wine, if you have the know-how.
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| from organic-herbal-remedies.com |
That's all for today! Keep reading for more helpful gardening and landscaping tips, tricks, and information.
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