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Post by ottawagardener on May 18, 2009 21:03:39 GMT -5
Even those people out there that think some 'alternative greens' are akin to eating grass would agree that Corn salad/mache or Valerianella locusta is a wonderful base for a salad. It's mild, reseeds year to year, grows in part shade, and is extremely hardy. It is harvastable (assuming that the leaves aren't frozen) all year round in my polytunnel. It is also cute in flower. See the tiny bouquets?:  |
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Post by canadamike on May 18, 2009 21:21:59 GMT -5
Thanks for reminding me to sow mine, I have a few different varieties to put in the ground. Byt I am so late. I was planning to sow a lot this week end, but with all the rain and the cold, nothing was done...
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sphinxeyes
gardener
Suburbia, small garden in side yard, containers on larger back deck. Hot humid summers.
Posts: 154
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Post by sphinxeyes on May 19, 2009 0:36:53 GMT -5
This reminds me... some time ago I remember reading that hostas were edible and could be used as salad greens. I've never tried them myself, but recently read on another forum that someone had tried the young shoots of a hosta plant and found that they tasted like asparagas. Does anyone know, if all hosta varieties are edible? Is it just the shoots that should be eaten or can the full leaves be eaten and taste just as good? I have several great big plants all around my house, all of different varieties, but the idea of eating them still seems a little strange to me.  |
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Post by ottawagardener on May 19, 2009 7:37:06 GMT -5
Yes, Stephen has written on it and is running a investigation. Which reminds me that I have to go check that out. (Sorry I haven't responded on that yet Stephen).
Mike: As mine are just about to go to seed, I'd say you're not too late in sowing them. I'd plant them in a spot with part shade and let them go wild. Do you have large and small seeded? I'd love to know the differences in how those two grow. I think mine are large seeded.
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Post by bunkie on May 19, 2009 9:29:19 GMT -5
telsing, are the little flowers edible?
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Post by canadamike on May 19, 2009 15:59:15 GMT -5
Telsing: I think I have both. ext time see you you could take some...
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Post by ottawagardener on May 19, 2009 19:26:32 GMT -5
Haven't killed me yet! Actually the flowers are according to pfaf (http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Valerianella+locusta) so I'm saying quite probably.
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Post by ottawagardener on Mar 15, 2010 21:25:57 GMT -5
I an image of it overwintered but it appears about the size of your room when I try to show you. Will fix it hopefully. That's better:  This was the base of a wonderful salad that this unusually mild spring allowed us to indulge in today. |
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Post by Penny on Mar 16, 2010 5:53:23 GMT -5
I've havent seen those before telsing, how cool.
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Post by stevil on Mar 16, 2010 7:32:25 GMT -5
You lost your snow quickly! We've just had our biggest snowfall of the winter.... Lamb's Lettuce is probably a more common name for this in England. It's gone wild in the garden here and is as you say a pleasant addition to salads most of the year, and is particularly nice with fresh tomatoes and basil later in the season. Probably best known as a vegetable in the Alps and other higher elevation areas of Southern Europe and the Caucasus. I once saw it for sale in a supermarket in a mountain village in Tuscany in Italy:   |
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Post by ottawagardener on Mar 16, 2010 8:28:20 GMT -5
They appreciate good salads, the Italians.
Yes, this is a surreal year when it comes to the snow. We've had an average amount with average temperatures more or less but then a couple weeks ago, the temperature climbed between 5-10C above normal and has stayed there ever since. I have never seen it like this before since I've lived in Ottawa. Maybe Michel remembers a time before like this.
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Post by flowerpower on Mar 17, 2010 5:31:18 GMT -5
I saw packs of Corn Salad on the Franchi rack in Agway. Maybe I will grab a pack next time I'm there.
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Post by ianpearson on Mar 17, 2010 13:44:34 GMT -5
Volunteer groundcover green-manure salad. My kind of plant :-)
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Post by ottawagardener on Mar 21, 2010 7:49:40 GMT -5
Yup, it's amoung my favourite plants for that too Ian.
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Post by canadamike on Mar 21, 2010 13:17:15 GMT -5
I confirm how great mâche3corn salad is. And even for a guy like me who came to greeens other than lettuce very very slowly...anybody feeling at home with a butterhead lettuce can fall in love with valeriana.
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