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Hairy bittercress (cardamine hirsuta)

coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
in Wildlife gardening
I read that this can be eaten in salads. 
Has anyone tasted it? Safe to eat?  Thank you. 

Luxembourg
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's probably our most common weed round here, but seeing where it grows [every crack in pavements etc ] and what inevitably gets 'dumped' on it, it would be put me off even thinking of it - even when it's in my own garden!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Yes it's edible coccinella. I went on a foraging course and the things she got us eating was an eye opener and nothing I tried on that day was spit out. We were greeted with an ice cold drink of water in which cleavers (sticky willie up here) had been steeping. It was very refreshing and tasted slightly of cucumber. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    It certainly smells nice as I rip it out of my garden, path, drive, steps, borders, patio…. 

    If you try it, and get a taste for it, let me know and I’ll send you a year’s supply of it! 
  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
     :D Guys thank you for the laugh. I will eat some in the salad for lunch and let you know. In April my aunts in Italy used to go foraging for salads in open fields (never eaten salads like that since!) but they knew what they were doing. 

    Luxembourg
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Do you get a smell from it @TheGreenMan? 
    Another scent that's passed me by.
    Mind you, it gets yanked out here as soon as it shows it's cheeky wee head. ;)

    Yes - let us know @coccinella. It would be handy to have a salad crop I don't even have to cultivate  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Here's another one for you to incorporate into your salads and can find it growing more or less anywhere. 
    https://britishlocalfood.com/pineapple-weed/
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Fairygirl said:
    Do you get a smell from it @TheGreenMan? 
    Another scent that's passed me by.
    Mind you, it gets yanked out here as soon as it shows it's cheeky wee head. ;)

    I am blessed/cursed with a “super nose” 

    I pulled up a carrier bag full of it this week. 


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Not sure I've ever seen that @Uff. I may just not have noticed, although it does say it's less common in parts of Scotland.
    Have you seen it down your neck of the woods?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Yes and down in the south west near Newton Stewart. It's an unassuming weed that's barely noticed, grows close to the ground. I grew up in Derbyshire with it in the lanes and fields.
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited February 2022
    I'll have to keep a look out for it.  :)

    I'm afraid I don't let it get to the 'bag full' amount @TheGreenMan ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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