Early Bounty

Wild garlic is now growing in profusion in the garden.  I have been harvesting small leaves for a couple of weeks but it seems that recent rain has brought on a growth spurt and large leaves abound.  I use it fresh in salads, but you can cook with it.  I haven’t tried it yet but wild garlic pesto sounds good.  This is a site that has a recipe for it and there are plenty of variations out there if you search!

http://violets-homecooking.blogspot.com/2008/03/wild-garlic-pesto.html

For several years I have only picked small amounts of my wild garlic to enable the plants to establish and to seed around.  This now seems to have paid off and there is more than enough.  If you do not yet have wild garlic in your garden then I recommend that you get some!  I will save some seed (if I can) for anyone who cares to ask. 

Ideally wild garlic likes cool, damp and shady spots – like woodland.  Forest gardens are perfect.  If you don’t have the right conditions I would suggest you try to create them as soon as possible!

Three cornered leeks have also been coming through for some weeks but have similarly put on a growth spurt in recent days.  Both of these plants will soon produce delightful white flowers.

It makes sense to capitalise on plants like these that grow so well in the early part of the year when not much else is about. 

If you plan to pick wild plants direct from the countryside this web site gives guidance on what is permitted:

http://www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_new_pages/1f_code_of_conduct.htm