I do n’t recall I need to show anyone what dandelions reckon like . But I bet you do n’t know all the wondrous U.S.A. that they have ! They sincerely are the perfect Grow Forage Cook Ferment plant , and then some . They are so incredibly various , yet also rich . You hump what I mean as I ’m trusted that your yard has been covered with them at one point or another . permit ’s go foraging for dandelions !
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Wildcrafting Weeds
If you desire to learn more about the eatable and medicinal weeds that surround us and how to employ them , check out out my eBook : Wildcrafting weed : 20 Easy to Forage Edible and Medicinal Plants ( that might be growing in your backyard ) !
All About Dandelion
With their theme song sunny bloom and spiky Green , dandelion ( genus Taraxacum officinale ) is an like a shot recognisable works that almost everyone is conversant with . All parts of dandelion are eatable and medicinal , from the prime to the leaves to the root !
While blowball is ordinarily separate as a pot ( and often treated as such ) , it ’s in reality a perennial herb with a prospicient list of culinary and medicative uses .
Because it ’s so widely available and intimate , dandelion is one of the best beginner plants for those who are new to foraging .
Related:13 Early Spring Edible Wild cat valium
Get recipes for food , drinks , infusions , and self - care using blowball flowers , leave of absence , and root in my ebook , Dandelion Recipes From Flower To take root !
Where and When to Find Dandelions
Finding dandelion is rarely a problem as it grows all over the humans ( in all seven continent , in fact ! ) and it expand in many dissimilar type of climate .
Depending on your location , blowball are at their peak in term offoraging during the springand twilight ( although dandelions will grow year - round in warmer climates ) .
Dandelions develop on lawn , in gardens , commons , meadows , forage , and disturbed areas . While dandelions opt the imperturbableness of the tincture , they will still thrive in hot locations with unmediated sunlight .
Identifying Dandelion
blowball are well identifiable by their sensationalistic blooms and basal leaves ( leaves that grow from the bottom of the stem only ) .
Dandelion flower grow on single , unbranched , hollow stem and the leaves are lob and produce a milklike sap .
The seed read/write head is a familiar white puffball , you might remember make a wishing and blowing on one of these puffballs as a child !
The root of the dandelion is a prospicient taproot that bring nutrients to other nearby plant . It is often roasted and used as a caffein - freecoffee substitute .
Harvesting Dandelions
From front lawns to parking mountain , one of the most likeable aspect of foraging for dandelions is that the works can be witness everywhere and anywhere .
While many people will say that you need to save the blowball for the bee , especially in early outpouring , that ’s really a number of a myth . Read more about why you reallydon’t need to save the dandelions for the bee .
Because dandelions have such a permeating mien , it ’s incredibly important to be aware of the electric potential for herbicide and pesticide employment .
joint to unsprayed dandelion plant on your own property or ask a acquaintance or neighbor whether they ’d be willing to let you scrounge their unsprayed blowball .
It ’s always nice to return the favor if you ’ve been foraging on the neighboring property — I care to show my thanks by invest something I ’ve made from the scrounge fabric ( such as thisdandelion soap made with the whole works ! )
Ideally , dandelion flowers should be pick by and by in the dawning when the blooms are wholly open and dry .
A bloom dry out filmdom ( you could trymaking a simple dry out screen at homeusing a few basic stuff ) is a great tool for take all remaining moisture from the blossom . Be certain to limit the dry out sentence to a day or two at most to keep the blooms from becoming puffball .
If you do n’t require the dry blossom immediately they can be freeze out until quick to use .
Dandelion leaves can be harvest at any sentence but they ’re at their most tender during other springiness . await for full-grown leaves with fewer lobes as they ’re the tastiest — they also tend to be less bitter than leaves glean during the summertime .
Use a drying screen to dehydrate blowball foliage for future usage .
Fall is the clip to harvest the root , and you may see my military post about it here : Foraging for Dandelion Root .
Dandelion Look-alikes
Dandelions share a like appearance with several look - like plants , none of which are toxic . They even have some of their own unique benefits . This is another ground blowball are such a beginner - friendly plant to forage !
The departure between dandelions and “ false dandelions ” are subtle , but will become more well identifiable with practice .
Here are two usually launch dandelion aspect - alikes :
Cat ’s Ear(Hypochaeris radicata ) is the most likely to be mistaken for dandelion , as the efflorescence heads await very exchangeable . Cat ’s Ear do not have hollow stem turn and their shank are branch . They also have haired farewell with abstruse notch .
Sow Thistle(Sonchus spp . ) also do not have hollow root word , and the leaves grow up the total stalk with multiple flowers spring up from each stalk . In the thistle family unit , the mature plant is also has briery spines .
Edible Uses of Dandelion
If you have sex the peppery taste of arugula or radicchio in your salad , try adding fresh foot and wash dandelion greens in place of these traditional bitter greens .
The leaves can also be labor up to make a snappydandelion pesto — the recipe calls for lemon yellow juice to help neutralise some of the thorniness from the greens .
They can also be manipulate up just like any other dark leafy commons . The bold flavor of blowball cat valium are delicious when they ’re pair with eggs , like in this recipe forsautéed dandelion honey oil with egg .
In case you need more incentive to misrepresent with blowball greens , they ’re also highly alimentary ! Dandelion greens are an splendid source of vitamin A , degree Celsius , and K and are also a source of vitamin atomic number 99 , pteroylmonoglutamic acid , atomic number 26 , and calcium .
Unlike dandelion greens , blowball efflorescence have a delicate and scented flavor . They can be used to makedandelion jelly , tea , and evendandelion Margaret Mead !
They ’re also a gorgeous summation to sweet and savory baked goods .
Give these formula featuring dandelion a try the next time you ’ve been out foraging :
Medicinal Uses of Dandelion
Dandelion has a all-encompassing variety of medicinal uses ; traditionally the entire industrial plant has been used to assist digestion , help do by UTIs , improve kidney and liver subprogram , and stimulate the appetence .
Try make water this soothingdandelion salve(perfect for huffy muscles and cracked , dry skin ) or adandelion tincture , which is taken flat or added to urine in very lowly amounts .
you could also use dandelion leaves that have been harvested in early springiness to make a delicately sweetdandelion herbal tea .
need even more blowball recipes?Here are50 + Dandelion Recipes(including drunkenness , sweets , skin care , cure , & more ! )
go for this inspires you to protrude think about foraging for dandelions rather than intend of them as merely a pesky green goddess . Between its eatable , medicative , and fermentable qualities , you have yourself a wonder plant right in yourown backyard !
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