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Post by richardw on Jul 7, 2012 0:15:44 GMT -5
I was asked whether i had heard of Ramsons Allium ursinum or knew where to get them. Anyone grow them at all??  |
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Post by orflo on Jul 7, 2012 0:58:09 GMT -5
Yep, a wonderous spring vegetable that is found wild over here in some places...Be careful because it can be invasive, it reseeds easily. Mine are grown under trees, they get the spring sun, during summer they form seeds and disappear.
I'll check if I'm not too late for collecting seeds and get them over to you
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Post by raymondo on Jul 7, 2012 7:57:53 GMT -5
Yep, a wonderous spring vegetable that is found wild over here in some places... This intrigues me. What is it about it that is so good? |
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Post by ferdzy on Jul 7, 2012 8:22:03 GMT -5
Ray, they are the European version of what in North America are called ramps, or wild leeks. (allium tricoccum). They are a spring ephemeral, coming up in dappled shady woods in April and May. Not only are they particularly richly flavoured, but they come at a time of year when there are very few fresh vegetables available. Really, they are the first thing up, I would say. So that gives them an extra excitement for sure. Add in the thrill of the chase, and you have an obsession...
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edwin
gardener
Posts: 141
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Post by edwin on Jul 7, 2012 8:44:52 GMT -5
Anyone grow them at all?? We're working on it - transplanted about 6 patches into the edges of our forest area. Ended up hand watering them as the rain stopped. I guess we will know how successful we were next spring. |
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Post by MikeH on Jul 7, 2012 9:43:06 GMT -5
Anyone grow them at all?? We're working on it - transplanted about 6 patches into the edges of our forest area. Ended up hand watering them as the rain stopped. I guess we will know how successful we were next spring. Yep, we've been doing the same thing with Allium canadense, Allium cernuum, Allium tricoccum, and Matteuccia struthiopteris. A couple of years ago we started them in a lattice-covered raised bed rich in leaf mold. Each fall we subdivide and plant some into the woods. This year the Allium canadense and Allium tricoccum have set seed so I'm going to try planting them in pots to start them. |
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Post by richardw on Jul 7, 2012 14:35:49 GMT -5
Yep, a wonderous spring vegetable that is found wild over here in some places...Be careful because it can be invasive, it reseeds easily. Mine are grown under trees, they get the spring sun, during summer they form seeds and disappear. I'll check if I'm not too late for collecting seeds and get them over to you Thanks Frank,the lady that asked would love me if i could get some seed for her,nothing like been in the good books hey  |
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Post by richardw on Jul 7, 2012 14:46:33 GMT -5
Ray, they are the European version of what in North America are called ramps, or wild leeks. (allium tricoccum). They are a spring ephemeral, coming up in dappled shady woods in April and May. Not only are they particularly richly flavoured, but they come at a time of year when there are very few fresh vegetables available. Really, they are the first thing up, I would say. So that gives them an extra excitement for sure. Add in the thrill of the chase, and you have an obsession... I did try to germinate some ramp seed a few years ago but nothing came up for some reason,so how much difference is there between the European version and the North American?? |
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Post by mountaindweller on Jul 7, 2012 22:30:00 GMT -5
I did the same and ordered the seeds from the agrofosrestry research institute , so I thinks it was an English strain, nothing came up, but the year was incredibly wet and maybe the slugs got in.
In German it's called Bärlauch and sometimes sold on the markets, I don't know if it is wildcrafted. But you might catch a rare but nasty disease called Fuchsbandwurm, I don't know what's in English, it's something foxes carry around.
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Post by raymondo on Jul 7, 2012 23:05:34 GMT -5
Fuchsbandwurm is tapeworm in English. Nasty parasites.
I'm going to look around for Allium ursinum seeds too. They have to be from a genuine commercial source to be able to import them. A strange restriction. Do they look anything like onion or leek seed?
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Post by mayz on Jul 9, 2012 4:48:18 GMT -5
The most interesting with Allium ursinum ... it's an indicator in association with Fraxinus excelsior and Mercurialis perennis of spots of Morel
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Post by ferdzy on Jul 9, 2012 7:27:22 GMT -5
I don't know much about allium ursinum, but allium tricoccum is something I've heard about a lot of people trying to grow and failing. I would not be surprised at all if it requires some interaction with specific mycorrhiza found in the forest floors around here. Also, like a lot of alliums I think the seed will germinate best (or perhaps only) when it is extremely fresh.
Allium tricoccum often grows in association with the similar-looking trout lily. We transplanted some to our little woodlot this spring but I really won't know if they take until next spring. They were good, large healthy specimens but this summer has been brutally dry, and they do go dormant so I can't say if ours are dead, or dormant at this point. Time will tell.
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Post by orflo on Jul 9, 2012 11:58:24 GMT -5
I've had the same problem with ramps, tried sowing them seven, eight times, and nothing ever germinated, fresh seeds didn't work, stratification was useless, sandpapering as well, I didn't try smoking though but they're obviously not found in places where there are lots of fires. So it could be you're right, ferdzy, about that bacteria, there must be some studies or papers dedicated to that, and if I import some new seeds I'll try and get some US soil as well...:-). By the way, the small bulbils from allium ursinum can be used as well, they have a somewhat sharper taste compared to the leaves. And Mayz, thanks for the hint on the mushrooms, if they grow in your area I'll come and find some during fall |
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Post by stevil on Jul 10, 2012 2:49:06 GMT -5
I've successfully germinated ramps 2 or 3 times now. They germinate erratically and most have germinated after 2 or even 3 years - cold stratified outside. However, I haven't been too successful at establishing them. They either disappear or grow incredibly slowly. A forumer sent me bulbs last year and they grew well the first year, so I'm hoping now for better success.
Although ramps and ramsons have similar names and look similar, they are not closely related in the large Allium genus.
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Post by stevil on Jul 10, 2012 2:53:43 GMT -5
The only time I've seen ramps growing happily in Europe was in Kew Gardens in London, growing alongside ramsons. Ramsons are mostly wild harvested, but it's not uncommon to grow them in gardens to have a ready supply. I once came across a Russian cultivar grown in home gardens in the Caucasus, but those seed didn't germinate (seed needs to be fresh, yes)
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