Spring is here now you should think about
Pretty Up Your Garden With Edible Flowers
By Ryan
R Henry
A
garden should be a place of beauty. It should be visually appealing, even
relaxing. Flowers can add splashes of color even when your veggies aren't in
bloom. I don't like giving up any of my limited garden space for plants that
are only decorative, so I'm looking for flowers that are edible.
There
are a few precautions when it comes to edible flowers. Make sure the flowers
you're about to eat are actually edible. Many non-edible flowers look just like
the edible varieties. I recommend only eating flowers that have been grown
specifically for eating. Harvesting flowers from plants you happen across in
the wild can be dangerous.
Make
sure the flowers you eat have not been treated with any pesticide that is not
labeled for use on food products. Some of those chemicals can be pretty nasty!
Also avoid eating flowers from florists as they are often dyed and otherwise
treated to make them look better and last longer.
For
the most part, only the petals of the flowers should be eaten. There are
exceptions, of course. I'll point out some of the flowers that are entirely
edible below.
The
best time to harvest flowers is in the cool of the morning. If you're not going
to be using them right away, keep some stem attached to the flowers and place
the stem in water until you're ready. This will keep them from drying out and
wilting.
Herb
Flowers -
Most people only use the leaves of their herbs and occasionally the seeds, but
the flowers of herbs can be eaten and taste very much like the leaves. Herb
flowers make great additions to salads or any dish where that herb is used.
Popular choices include basil, bee balm, chives, cilantro (leave some flowers
on the plant so you can harvest coriander later!), fennel and even garlic (I
know, it's not really a herb, but the flowers are tasty!).
Pansy - Quite possibly
the most popular edible flower, it's used mostly as a garnish. The entire
flower is edible and has a nice minty flavor to it. It's also great for
candying (coating with sugar).
Dandelion - The scourge of
lawns everywhere, the flowers (and other parts) are edible, and are best when
young and tender. There are specially varieties available developed to have a
low bitterness. Be careful eating the dandelions from your lawn - make sure no
pesticides have been used. Some pesticides commonly used on lawns can linger for
years, so it's best to grow your own if you're interested in eating them.
Nasturtium - Actually
members of the genus Tropaeolum, every part of the plant is edible, including
the peppery flowers. Often used to infuse vinegars or even vodkas.
Calendula - Also known as
Pot Marigold, the petals can be eaten fresh or cooked. When chopped and sauteed
they give a very nice color and can be used in place of saffron for coloring
dishes.
Gem
Marigold -
Only two varieties of this plant have edible flowers - the Lemon Gem and
Tangerine Gem. As the names suggest, they have a citrusy flavor to them and are
very brightly colored.
Borage - Often used in
salads, these blue flowers have a cucumber flavor. A great plant to grow
indoors during the winter to give fresh cucumber taste to your salads and other
dishes.
Daylily - These flowers
are often stuffed a prepared like a squash blossom.
Squash
Blossoms -
Popular in fine dining, all squash blossoms are edible, not just zucchini. They
are often stuffed with cheese and fried, sometimes lightly breaded.
I
hope these suggestions inspire you to have not just a productive garden this
year, but also a beautiful one!
Ryan
Henry grew up gardening with his parents and has been hooked ever since. He
runs a web site [http://urbangardengrowing.com] with tips and information for
people interested in container gardening.
Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ryan_R_Henry/939413
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