Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca

Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca (http://www.pets.ca/forum/index.php)
-   Gardening (http://www.pets.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=49)
-   -   Fiddleheads anyone? (http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=76870)

clm May 9th, 2011 10:31 PM

Fiddleheads anyone?
 
My ostrich ferns are up and growing like crazy now. I love ferns.

clm

[IMG]http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/clmandmm/Spring%202011/DSCF0288.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/clmandmm/Spring%202011/DSCF0287.jpg[/IMG]

hazelrunpack May 9th, 2011 10:37 PM

We have bracken fern and sweet fern growing around here. I love them, too--especially the sweet fern, with its wonderful scent.

Melinda May 10th, 2011 03:54 AM

mmmm nummers, our fiddle heads were ready to be plucked two weeks ago, son and I enjoyed a pan full!!!

marko May 10th, 2011 09:17 AM

I love ferns too CLM - way cool plant! (Tasty too) :thumbs up

hazelrunpack May 10th, 2011 09:19 AM

Here's a dumb question, cuz I've never harvested fiddle heads. If you cut them all off, do the first send up new ones? Or do you just take some, not all? :o

Melinda May 10th, 2011 10:50 AM

well ours grow just past our property line and son and I usually get a couple good feeds out of them, (a quart basket approx) and beleive me, there are still tons of ferns out there, not all "fiddleheads" from the same plant come up at the same time, so I imagine there will still be feathers growing from the base. Maybe someone else has a better answer? *L*

I'm getting ready to go pick wild garlics this weekend...another free nummers from the bush.

clm May 10th, 2011 01:15 PM

I believe you're not supposed to harvest all from the same plant Hazel. I've only got 4 plants at the moment so I wouldn't even consider harvesting from them yet, but if they multiply to 10 or 12 plants I might consider taking a few from each to try.

clm

Inthedoghouse May 10th, 2011 01:24 PM

...am so jealous - the ones in the grocery stores just aren't that fresh! Have I read that they should be cooked and not eaten raw? J.

Melinda May 10th, 2011 02:08 PM

I don't think I'd eat them raw??

clm, we have to continually fight to keep them out of our lawn...there are hundreds surrounding us

Masha May 10th, 2011 03:34 PM

I have seen fiddleheads in the store--- how do you eat them?? i never knew they were related to ferns??!! :eek:

Dee-O-Gee May 10th, 2011 05:36 PM

I've never seen these before and look very interesting.

Do they grow best in sun, shade or partial? :shrug:

clm May 10th, 2011 07:09 PM

Most ferns do best in partial to full shade. At least shade for the afternoon when it's the hottest. These ones get sun most of the day, but they're in a bog type situation where they have constant moisture, so they take a little more sun that way.
I believe you cook them like you would aspargus, steamed and serve with butter and season with salt and pepper. I wouldn't think they'd be wonderful raw. :yuck: ha, ha.

clm

shirley1011 May 10th, 2011 07:26 PM

No they aren't good raw...and they aren't good if they get picked too late...it just has to be when they are curled really tight.

I personally like them better than asparagus...we always got ours in the bush and never thought about harming the fern when we picked...guess I need to google that and see if it has an effect on the fern that "lost its head"

shirley1011 May 10th, 2011 07:30 PM

ok...... In rural areas, fiddleheads are harvested by individuals in early spring. When picking fiddleheads, three tops per plant is the recommended harvest. Each plant produces seven tops that turn into fronds; over-picking will kill the plant"

Ok so I guess you won't harm the fern plant itself if you don't pick all the heads.....but this I didn't know:fiddleheads have more antioxidants than blueberries. If you could eat fiddleheads all year round, and not be struck by a bus, you would live forever.

Melinda May 11th, 2011 07:39 AM

we're rural and surrounded by swamp land.....I fry them up with butter in a cast iron skillet.....I detest asparagus and love ferns *L* if the wild garlics/leeks happen to be up early , I toss a few of them in also

erykah1310 May 11th, 2011 09:47 AM

I have been so busy with smelts, catfish and sucker fishing I totally forgot about fiddlehead harvesting :(
I'm sure I'm too late again this year.
Just gonna have to wait for the dandilions to come out in full force for a new batch of dandilion wine :D

hazelrunpack May 11th, 2011 09:51 AM

Our fiddleheads aren't even up, yet! Soon, though...could be a road trip? :laughing:

erykah1310 May 11th, 2011 09:52 AM

Perhaps :D
I could stop by Marv's breeders while I'm in the state I suppose as well. lol

Melinda May 11th, 2011 10:08 AM

catfish fishing is going on like crazy here right now!!!


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:42 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.