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Post by castanea on Jan 20, 2010 23:17:19 GMT -5
I have been looking for someone to ship me a live clump for about three years now so I can get ramps going here. No luck so far. On our 100 acres, most of it is woods. I feel Ramps would be happy to live here, although my location is out of the natural range. I tried to get Montreal's BioDome to send some to me but they said since we were out of the natural range they would not send any. But I do hear in Quebec that once in a while they will catch someone over-harvesting the ramps, then confiscate the plant material, and give it to someone who will replant it, usually on private land to prevent over picking. I lived in the state of Pennsylvania for a while before moving to Quebec, and there I was introduced to the ramp for the first time. And nothing else since can even come close. You got to be a true onion family lover to appreciate ramps. They stink, but boy are they ever tasty. And it's fun in an area where they make a spring tonic of sorts with it, usually in the form of leek/potato/ham soup, or leek cheese dip. *drool* I had some seeds from Gardens North but none ever germinated. Maybe I should have just tossed them out in the woods to do their thing. Anyhoo if someone happens to come across a live clump in Canada this spring, I'll pay for postage to get it sent here. Bah now I'm hungry imagining ramps in an omelet. *cry* These folks in the US sell seed, fresh ramps, and bulbs: www.rampfarm.com/catalog.htmThe seed I have planted from them had a high germination rate. These people seem to be ramps lovers. It's all they sell. They even have a book about ramps. |
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Post by bunkie on Jan 23, 2010 12:27:51 GMT -5
wood, your wild leek seed just arrived! thanks so much, and for the tommy toe tomato seeds, too. you are the one who sent them, right? i see WI in the return addy...
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Post by pugs on Jan 23, 2010 21:14:12 GMT -5
Wood,
The seeds arrived today. Thanks! And thanks for the extra seeds, I don't have the tomato Tommy Toe.
Anything ever on one of my lists, its yours.
Pugs
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Post by mjc on Jan 23, 2010 22:48:31 GMT -5
Mine came, too...thanks.
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Post by ceara on Jan 26, 2010 14:13:44 GMT -5
These folks in the US sell seed, fresh ramps, and bulbs: www.rampfarm.com/catalog.htmThe seed I have planted from them had a high germination rate. These people seem to be ramps lovers. It's all they sell. They even have a book about ramps. They sell to USA only. I am in Canada. I have been unable to locate a grower in Canada. None of the USA live plant material suppliers will even think about shipping to Canada, especially Quebec, because Ramps are a protected species here. I may never get them unless I find some wild or get someone in Quebec to send me some. Check out this article v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090520.wxlwild20art1829/BNStory/lifeMainEven though I want to help save these colonies and grow wild on our private land, I'm not allowed to buy these commercially. It's like people are denied outright for conservation purposed. The only outlet left to me is a sneaky one. LOL I have seeds but none germinated. My seed pack instructions from Gardens North says "Has an extended germination pattern, requiring alternating periods of warm (20 C) and cold (-4 C to +4 C), in approximate 3 month cycles. Often requires 4-6 complete cycles - so sow directly where it is to grow, or keep pot in a protected spot outdoors for the requisite time period." I ordered two packs. One went outdoors in the spot where I wanted it to grow, ideal for Ramps. The other pack was split into two. One went into stratification cycles in the freezer and then into warmth. The other half went into the refrigerator stratification. I attempted to germinate for three years. Nothing happened. Maybe I don't have the knack or the seeds were bad. When I was living in Pennsylvania, near the NY state line and 45 minutes drive south from Buffalo, NY, the local ramps were PROLIFIC on a north facing hill. People used to dig up giant clumps. At one time my refrigerator was chock full of those gems. |
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Post by ceara on Jan 26, 2010 15:21:36 GMT -5
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Post by mjc on Jan 26, 2010 16:10:32 GMT -5
That 'look don't touch...and never think of doing something useful with it'/'you have to be an expert with a government permit and advanced degree from some University' type of elitist preservation sure sucks, doesn't it?
I'll try and sneak you a few seeds...
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Post by ceara on Jan 26, 2010 16:53:39 GMT -5
Hehe thanks
I am still going to try contacting individuals who are willing to dig up their allowed 50 plants annually and then send me half to replant here.
Biodome made me angry. They refused to send me any plant material because my location is out of the range as noted by Environment Canada. But they also say maples, ostrich ferns (fiddlehead ferns), Trillium, and Solomon's Seal are indicator plants. Well we have all those plants growing wild already in abundance, so it should be an ideal place for Ramps to be happy.
But if someone does live within the range, they are given confiscated plants to replant on private property and create new colonies.
Biodome even had a free seed giveaway a couple of years ago, but I was refused that also because my location is listed as out-of-range. But they wished me luck if I obtained seeds elsewhere.
I'm not convinced they are really wanting to save the leeks. Because if they were desperate, they would test new locations, even outside the range. If I am even remotely successful, there are tens of thousands of acres within a short drive where I could transplant the leeks, and in places I know hardly see human traffic. And most people around here would not even be able to ID the leeks, ensuring their safety.
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Post by mjc on Jan 26, 2010 17:42:36 GMT -5
50 plants...sheesh, I can do that in about 3 minutes (if I cross the fence and do a little poaching...on my side of the fence it may take me 5 minutes and that is including digging an counting them).
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Post by ceara on Jan 26, 2010 19:22:27 GMT -5
50 plants...sheesh, I can do that in about 3 minutes (if I cross the fence and do a little poaching...on my side of the fence it may take me 5 minutes and that is including digging an counting them). Such a tease. |
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Post by pugs on Jan 26, 2010 20:04:13 GMT -5
Ceara,
I wish I read French. I'm sure that site is very informative, but only if you read French.
Oh well, I'll buy the book from the other site.
Pugs
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Post by mjc on Jan 26, 2010 20:08:23 GMT -5
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Post by canadamike on Jan 26, 2010 20:29:24 GMT -5
Ceara, it is a protected crop around here, and there is lots of it a few hours down the roads, but i WOULD NEVER DARE PICK SOME FROM HERE, THEY ARE IN SUCH A BAD STATE AS A FORMER GLORIOUS CROP . Only a few left, I eat 2 or 3 every year, not more... but you might very well have a small micro-climate. Ostrich + maple+solomon seal = an almost sure catch, unles it has been all harvested. Here, we also find Jack in the pulpits around them, in the lower areas... if you have morels in the spring, it might be another indication...
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Post by pugs on Jan 26, 2010 21:38:09 GMT -5
MJC,
Thanks. I didn't see the link to the English version. I was at work and using the newest version of FireFox, so it was my own lack of seeing!
Pugs
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wood
gopher
Posts: 6
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Post by wood on Jan 26, 2010 23:54:39 GMT -5
Ceara
Would you like me to send you some seed? If so PM me.
All
I feel like I am hogging the Wild Leek. If you added up all the patches that are growing on my land it would probably be about five acres. In the spring we eat leek till they come out of our ears (well not quite), freeze it, dry some and this summer do some pickling. My wife also wants me to make a batch of leek wine for cooking.
Wood
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