Today we’re in Phoenix, Maryland, visiting Sally Barker’s beautiful garden:
12.03.2024 - 17:55 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren
Are Violets Edible? How to Choose and Use These Sweet Treats
I won’t leave you in suspense: violets are edible. You might have already guessed that. Most of us have seen them candied and decorating cakes or in drinks.
Not only are they edible, they’re palatable!
Some plants are technically edible, as in they won’t hurt you to eat them, and they might even provide some nutrition.
But other flowers and ornamental plants, like violets, could be grown purely for their flavor.
You can even find cut flowers and live plants at gourmet grocery stores that are cultivated solely for munching on.
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Whether you buy some at the store ready to eat or to cultivate at home, or you forage them from the wild, these cheerful harbingers of spring are a delight on the plate.
In this guide, we’ll explain which parts you can eat and how to identify wild plants, and offer up a few recipes to get you started.
Here’s the full lineup:
If you purchase a plant at a nursery, unless they can assure you that the plant hasn’t been sprayed, don’t eat any of the existing flowers.
Pinch them off and let new ones form. You can safely eat those.
If you decide to forage your goodies, don’t take too many from one area and be sure only to forage in areas where it’s legal and safe to do so.
Don’t eat any foraged foods unless you know whether they have been sprayed or not, and avoid those growing on the side of the road. You never know what kinds of chemicals or animal waste has touched them.
Speaking of, if you’d like to learn about some more edible flowers, read our guide. And be sure to check out our guide to harvesting and storing edible flowers as
Today we’re in Phoenix, Maryland, visiting Sally Barker’s beautiful garden:
Ranging from $500 to $5,000 per kilogram, saffron, or the Red Gold as it is commonly referred to, takes a total of about 150,000 flowers to produce just one kilogram! Now you know why it would be a great idea to have its plant at home!
Sowing a seed directly into the ground, nurturing it, and reaping the rewards is one of the easiest gardening activities you can do—yet many gardeners don’t. There are many reasons to direct sow. Often, you’ll have earlier harvests because the seeds will germinate when it’s the perfect time to grow, and stronger seedlings because transplant shock isn’t an issue. Planting seeds in general (instead of buying transplants) gives you more varietal options, and you can also save a lot of money (1 packet of 30 to 150 seeds often costs less than a 6-pack of plants). And then there is the personal satisfaction factor. Ask any child who has planted a sunflower seed how they feel when that flower towers over their head, and you’ll understand what I mean.
Peace lily, Spathiphyllum wallisii, is a popular, low-maintenance house plant with glossy, green leaves and white flowers, called spathes. Native to Central America, it’s used to a warm, humid environment and is perfect for growing in a bright bathroom. Peace lilies are easy to grow and relatively trouble-free.
Tips for Growing Cayenne Peppers Capsicum annuum ‘Cayenne’
Before you plant anything in a shady garden, you need to know what kind of shade you have.
Now that we’re firmly planted in March, it feels safe to say it out loud: spring is practically here. Along with bluer skies and brighter days, it also brings the perfect time of year for cleaning and organizing.
SOME PEOPLE collect art, and others collect vintage cars or maybe stamps or coins. Darryl Cheng collects houseplants. And in his latest book, “The New Plant Collector,” Darryl suggests some gorgeous possibilities with detailed guidelines for figuring out how to make a good match for your growing conditions before you invest.
How to Identify and Manage Soft Rot in Lettuce
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How to Grow Coral Bells Coral bells bring colorful foliage and airy blossoms to any garden! Here's how to grow them. Add coral bells to your garden!