GHS Northern Gardens

 Wild and Cultivated Perennial Edibles

Northern Minnesota Harvested-zone 3
*Adding berries mushrooms and fungi is under construction
Early Spring
Mixed Green Salad 4-18-2016

What is in it?

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* The plants pictured on the edibles pages I have personally eaten.  It's a good practice to do some testing to make sure a new plant and quantity is compatible with your system.                * Suggestion:  Start with small quantities and/or cook plants that you have not eaten before in a couple changes of water.   Plants are "chemical factories".  "Cleansing" effects are not uncommon with plants we are not accustomed to. 


Marsh Marigold  4-20-2016 
*Harvest the young leaves before the plant blooms.  Cook in 2 changes of water.  They are mild, bitter-sweet, with a very nice texture.



*Click any photo to begin the gallery below and click "next" at the top right side of each photo to continue.


Jerusalem Artichoke  4-27-2016 
A sweet and very tasty "perennial potato", sauteed in butter, garlic, salt with a quick wilt of dandelions in the pan scrapings.  The *"wind producing" is vastly reduced by wintering over the tubers either in the ground or refrigerator so their "inulin insoluble fiber converts to fructose, which is more digestible".  They are prolific and durable producers.


*Click any photo to begin the gallery below and click "next" at the top right side of each photo to continue.

Japanese Knotweed-Fallopia japonica
It is the tall plant in back with the white flowers.  The photo is from late August when the plant was full size and in full bloom.  The edible shoots in the photos below were collected this year, 5-12-2016.  *In Minnesota it is "specially regulated" cautioning about planting within a 100 feet of a body of water or a flood plain.
 

*Click any photo to begin the gallery below and click "next" at the top right side of each photo to continue.


White Spruce Tree  5-2016
*Young Pollen Cones 5-11 *Pollen 5-15 *Young Tips 5-31


Northern Minnesota-zone 3. The "low hanging fruit" is ready! White Spruce pollen cones. They are delicious and abundant as well as very easy to pick. Some cones are more advanced and contain an unbelievable amount of pollen per cone. Gathering to eat fresh, and freeze. Once the pollen is spent from the cone, it withers and falls off the tree. It's the female hard cone that will have the seeds. Flavor is mild pine sweet citrus. Texture is a nice crunch, soft fiber. 


*Click any photo to begin the gallery below and click "next" at the top right side of each photo to continue.
Early Summer
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Stella D'Oro Day Lilies
*Harvest in bloom or the day after, eat raw or cooked.  They can be dried and use in soups and other dishes. They freeze well.

Harvest the flower in bloom
Harvest the day after bloom
Eat raw or cooked
Eat raw or cooked

Wild & Cultivated Fruits and Berries

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Edible Mushrooms &
Medicinal fungi