Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Off topic forum > Gardening

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old May 9th, 2011, 10:31 PM
clm's Avatar
clm clm is offline
Senior Contributor
Typing Test Champion, Curveball Champion, Mahjong Champion, Zookeeper Champion
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Posts: 3,333
Fiddleheads anyone?

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

clm



Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old May 9th, 2011, 10:37 PM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
We have bracken fern and sweet fern growing around here. I love them, too--especially the sweet fern, with its wonderful scent.
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old May 10th, 2011, 03:54 AM
Melinda's Avatar
Melinda Melinda is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,247
mmmm nummers, our fiddle heads were ready to be plucked two weeks ago, son and I enjoyed a pan full!!!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old May 10th, 2011, 09:17 AM
marko's Avatar
marko marko is offline
Administrator - Pet lover
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Montreal Quebec Canada
Posts: 12,651
I love ferns too CLM - way cool plant! (Tasty too)
__________________
Please tactfully EDUCATE or IGNORE posters you don't agree with.
Please PM me & Include URLs and post #'s for any issues and it's my pleasure to help.
I'm firm - but fair. Mind the Rules and enjoy your stay.
Newcomers FAQ - How do I post on this BB?
Pet facebook group
Check out the Pet podcast
Follow me on Twitter
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old May 10th, 2011, 09:19 AM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
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?
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old May 10th, 2011, 10:50 AM
Melinda's Avatar
Melinda Melinda is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,247
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.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old May 10th, 2011, 01:15 PM
clm's Avatar
clm clm is offline
Senior Contributor
Typing Test Champion, Curveball Champion, Mahjong Champion, Zookeeper Champion
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Posts: 3,333
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
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old May 10th, 2011, 01:24 PM
Inthedoghouse's Avatar
Inthedoghouse Inthedoghouse is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Northern Ontario
Posts: 112
...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.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old May 10th, 2011, 02:08 PM
Melinda's Avatar
Melinda Melinda is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,247
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
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old May 10th, 2011, 03:34 PM
Masha's Avatar
Masha Masha is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 747
I have seen fiddleheads in the store--- how do you eat them?? i never knew they were related to ferns??!!
__________________
Monkey and Amy (cats)
Jermy (GSD)


“Dogs believe they are human. Cats believe they are God.”

"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person."
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old May 10th, 2011, 05:36 PM
Dee-O-Gee's Avatar
Dee-O-Gee Dee-O-Gee is offline
You can call me DOG!
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Niagara, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 5,645
I've never seen these before and look very interesting.

Do they grow best in sun, shade or partial?
__________________
A dog wags his tail with his heart
Dogs have Masters--Cats have Staff

Rest in Peace Bailey: 12/10/95-1/9/09 (Golden Retriever)
Rest in Peace Kitty: 7/1/2000 - 10/7/2013
Rest in Peace Gryphon (sounds like Griffin): 10/15/2004 - 11/18/2017 (English Springer Spaniel)
Bella: 3/09/2005 LHD Cat adopted by/from Child
Mollie: 6/2/2009 (English Setter)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old May 10th, 2011, 07:09 PM
clm's Avatar
clm clm is offline
Senior Contributor
Typing Test Champion, Curveball Champion, Mahjong Champion, Zookeeper Champion
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Posts: 3,333
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. ha, ha.

clm
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old May 10th, 2011, 07:26 PM
shirley1011 shirley1011 is offline
banned user
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: North of Oshawa Ontario
Posts: 3,955
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"
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old May 10th, 2011, 07:30 PM
shirley1011 shirley1011 is offline
banned user
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: North of Oshawa Ontario
Posts: 3,955
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.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old May 11th, 2011, 07:39 AM
Melinda's Avatar
Melinda Melinda is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,247
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
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old May 11th, 2011, 09:47 AM
erykah1310's Avatar
erykah1310 erykah1310 is offline
Blue eyed funny farm
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 5,595
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
__________________
Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyways. ~John Wayne
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old May 11th, 2011, 09:51 AM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
Our fiddleheads aren't even up, yet! Soon, though...could be a road trip?
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old May 11th, 2011, 09:52 AM
erykah1310's Avatar
erykah1310 erykah1310 is offline
Blue eyed funny farm
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 5,595
Perhaps
I could stop by Marv's breeders while I'm in the state I suppose as well. lol
__________________
Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyways. ~John Wayne
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old May 11th, 2011, 10:08 AM
Melinda's Avatar
Melinda Melinda is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,247
catfish fishing is going on like crazy here right now!!!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:35 PM.