Herb Of The Week - Dandelion - Growing

[Guest guest]

This is sort of an ironic post, as most folks want to know how to

eradicate dandelions .. as apparently growing them can be too easy for

some .. but the way I see it - we should all have dandelions planted in

our yards, especially since they are so easy to grow, and so good for

you ...

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

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http://www.farminfo.org/garden/dandelion.htm

 

 

Dandelions - Taraxacum officinale - Perennial

 

 

Dandelions are native to the temperate zones of all continents. However,

most of the Taraxacum species are indigenous to Eurasia; two are

indigenous to America.

 

Dandelions are hardy perennials whose leaves are gathered as pot herbs

or greens. Young leaves are eaten in salads, boiled, steamed, sautéed,

fried, braised, etc. The roots are eaten raw, or cooked and served like

salsify. Dandelion wine is made from the flowers. Dandelion may be

cultivated in the home garden when wild plants are not available.

 

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Varieties

 

 

Broad Leaved - (Thick-Leaved or Cabbage-Leaved) 95 days to harvest.

Large, broad, dark-green leaves; more deeply lobed along the axis of the

leaf than those of the wild dandelion; thick and tender. In rich soil,

each plant spreads 18 - 24 inches across.

 

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Planting

 

 

Dandelion requires a long growing season and develops best at low

temperatures. Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in May to early summer and

thin seedlings to 8 to 12 inches apart in the row. The plants form a

rosette of leaves and overwinter in the garden. They will grow in any

well-drained garden soil. A polyethylene tunnel can be placed over the

row to force growth for late winter or early spring cutting.

 

Dandelions can be grown in the garden and should be treated similar to

lettuce. If grown for a fall crop it should be planted in mid-summer.

Dandelion is a perennial and can become a problem in gardens if allowed

to grow unchecked.

 

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Harvesting

 

 

Harvest in the fall when plants are of satisfactory size. Cut just below

the crown with a sharp knife so that the leaves remain attached.

Unharvested plants may be left for use in the following spring. Harvest

in early spring before the plants form flower stalks and go to seed. If

flowering occurs, the greens will become bitter and of poor quality.

Some gardeners blanch the inner rosette of leaves by tying the outer

leaves together over the plant. Blanching makes the leaves milder and

less bitter.

 

Dandelion is extremely high in iron and vitamin A. The young tender

leaves fresh from the garden are used in salads or served with vinegar,

and crumbled bacon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Chris and thanks for that

 

> This is sort of an ironic post, as most folks want to know how to

> eradicate dandelions .. as apparently growing them can be too easy for

> some .. but the way I see it - we should all have dandelions planted in

> our yards, especially since they are so easy to grow, and so good for

> you ...

 

A similar thing happens in Australia with St Johns Wort. It is a weed and

if a weed inspector comes to your property they can insist on you removing

it.

 

A few years back we were advised that a weed inspector was doing the rounds

locally and we held our breath until he'd gone, hoping that he wouldn't see

it or any other " suspect " herbs. Fortunately he was really only interested

in the paddocks and didn't show any interest in the herb garden:-)

 

Vicki