beneficial weeds? - Garden Plants and Gardening Forum

lulugardens · 07-08-2008, 09:42 PM

I've heard from a gardener friend that she doesn't mind weeds in her garden because she thinks that she gets extra water on her plants because of them. I suppose she means from the slow drip on the ground after a good watering. I've always thought that weeds were the enemy and they should be removed. Is there any good to come of leaving weeds once they appear? Are some more harmful than others?

ConsiderThis · 08-09-2008, 09:16 PM

Quite a long time ago I helped Alice Waters' sister with some real estate here in Santa Fe. I also met their dad. As I understand it he played a large part in helping to produce the kinds of healthy veg that she uses in her restaurant and relies on as the basis of good food,

and,

as I understand it one of the things that motivated Pat Waters in relation to his beliefs about growing veggies was that weeds add flavor and character to the plants around them by way of pollen.

Besides that and since then, I've read that dandelions have such deep roots that they draw up iron and thus, when they are composted they add iron to the mix which is healthy for the plants later grown in the compost.

I keep several weeds in my garden, some are simply to shade the earth so that it isn't quite so scorching hot.

Some "weeds" are really good to eat, like Indian Spinach... I forget its other name, but it is really good, I mean very tasty and it's so easy to clean and cook because it grows a distance from the ground so it's never gritty like ordinary spinach... and ... darn, I forget the other one I eat quite regularly... but it's a sort of a crunch salad type weed... succulent. Maybe you know its name.

Also, in the spring the bees LOVE dandelions. I think they'd love them in the summer, too, except they don't seem to continue flowering that long. I feel as if they may love them because they are real and unadulterated, whereas so many plants these days are modified for commercial purposes.

Agapanthus · 05-14-2009, 01:26 AM

I can second that ConsiderThis.
A weed is not just a weed. And talking about Dandelions. They are edible too - the flowers especially. I was once served a Dandelion and beetroot salad which was absolutely divine.
Dandelion can also be used medicinally as it has many detoxifying properties. Pretty good for a weed I think.

ConsiderThis · 05-14-2009, 09:18 AM

Oh WOW! That is so neat to know!!!!! Thank you, Agapanthus! I had no idea that you could eat the flowers! (dandelion flowers) My mouth is watering!!!!

I had a lot of dandelions this spring, banks of them. I was a little daunted until I saw how many bees there were nuzzling into them.

Here, where the soil is thick, heavy clay, dandelions do a stupendous job of sending their roots down into the soil that is nearly impenetrable for other plants, and making it possible for grasses and things to grow around them... I had solar put in and the dug up area was very slippery after rain or if I watered, so the dandelions change that.

One thing I read about them that makes them seem valuable in other ways is that they bring up iron from deep in the ground, so when I put the ones I do pull into my compost I think about how I'm making iron available to other plants that can't send their roots as deep.

Thanks so much for the information about the flowers being edible!!!!!

.

Agapanthus · 05-15-2009, 12:56 AM

You also provided me with so much information about Dandelion. I am in awe when I think of this 'weed'.
A word of caution though - Make sure you eat the right species. The edible species is the Taraxacum officinale.

I think my must go back to ask for the Dandelion and beetroot salad recipe.

ConsiderThis · 05-15-2009, 03:16 PM

I too would LOVE that recipe!!!!

Do you know how to identify the Taraxacum officinale?

Agapanthus · 05-18-2009, 01:08 AM

Strange enough - I always sound that note of caution, but I cannot think of other types of Dandelion that grows here. My mother, some thirty years ago, brought home some Dandelion seeds from England and we have been growing those since I can remember.
Actually it grows itself being self-seeding, perennial, and all.
To tell you the truth - I always just look for the bright yellow flowers and the jagged-toothed leaves. Fortunately my mother brought the edible type home.

ConsiderThis · 05-19-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agapanthus

Strange enough - I always sound that note of caution, but I cannot think of other types of Dandelion that grows here. My mother, some thirty years ago, brought home some Dandelion seeds from England and we have been growing those since I can remember.
Actually it grows itself being self-seeding, perennial, and all.
To tell you the truth - I always just look for the bright yellow flowers and the jagged-toothed leaves. Fortunately my mother brought the edible type home.

LOL -- I bought dandelion seeds with I lived in London, much to the dismay of my boyfriend.

Have you ever bought dandelion leaves from the grocery? They don't look like the close to the ground plants that have the flowers I think of as dandelions.

I was just watching the little birds delight in eating the dandelion seeds. It's lovely.

Do you eat the leaves all summer? I heard that they get a bit bitter. I should try the ones in my garden... I could use an infusion of iron.

Agapanthus · 05-21-2009, 02:24 AM

You can addsome onion of any kind, to reduce the bitterness of the Dandelion.

ANd oh yes - the promised recipe: Dandelion and Beetroot salad
THis salad can be served hot or cold.

Ingredients:
2 cups of Dandeion leaves roughly torn
2 cups of Dandelion flowers
approx. 6 cooked beetroots, peeled and thinly sliced.
1 cup of chopped celery.
Dressing:
1 cup of brown grape vinegar
1 cup of brown sugar
2 teaspoons of mustard powder
1 teaspoon of ground coriander (Dhanya seeds / Cilantro seeds)
half a teaspoon of ground cloves.

Method:
Mix the Dandelion leaves and flowers with the beetroot slices and celery.
Heat the vinegar, sugar and mustard and stir until the sugar dissolves.
Add the Coriander and the Cloves.
Pour the hot dressing over them and either serve hot sprinkled with Dandelion flowers and parsley or leave until it is cold.

Hope you enjoy this one.

ConsiderThis · 05-21-2009, 01:21 PM

OMG that sounds SO good!!!!! My mouth is literally watering!

I didn't grow beets this year, so I'll have to be patient...

Now, the big question is where to put the recipe in my computer so that I can be reminded of it and find it when the dandelions are blooming again...

07-08-2008, 09:42 PM	#1
lulugardens Green Thumb Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 36 Blog Entries: 6 Images: 3	beneficial weeds? I've heard from a gardener friend that she doesn't mind weeds in her garden because she thinks that she gets extra water on her plants because of them. I suppose she means from the slow drip on the ground after a good watering. I've always thought that weeds were the enemy and they should be removed. Is there any good to come of leaving weeds once they appear? Are some more harmful than others?

08-09-2008, 09:16 PM	#2
ConsiderThis Green Thumb Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico Posts: 58	Quite a long time ago I helped Alice Waters' sister with some real estate here in Santa Fe. I also met their dad. As I understand it he played a large part in helping to produce the kinds of healthy veg that she uses in her restaurant and relies on as the basis of good food, and, as I understand it one of the things that motivated Pat Waters in relation to his beliefs about growing veggies was that weeds add flavor and character to the plants around them by way of pollen. Besides that and since then, I've read that dandelions have such deep roots that they draw up iron and thus, when they are composted they add iron to the mix which is healthy for the plants later grown in the compost. I keep several weeds in my garden, some are simply to shade the earth so that it isn't quite so scorching hot. Some "weeds" are really good to eat, like Indian Spinach... I forget its other name, but it is really good, I mean very tasty and it's so easy to clean and cook because it grows a distance from the ground so it's never gritty like ordinary spinach... and ... darn, I forget the other one I eat quite regularly... but it's a sort of a crunch salad type weed... succulent. Maybe you know its name. Also, in the spring the bees LOVE dandelions. I think they'd love them in the summer, too, except they don't seem to continue flowering that long. I feel as if they may love them because they are real and unadulterated, whereas so many plants these days are modified for commercial purposes. __________________ http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com Your fingernails reflect your health -- Learn some warning signs -- Karen Kline Last edited by ConsiderThis; 08-09-2008 at 09:22 PM.

05-14-2009, 01:26 AM	#3
Agapanthus Green Gardener Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cape Town Posts: 11	I can second that ConsiderThis. A weed is not just a weed. And talking about Dandelions. They are edible too - the flowers especially. I was once served a Dandelion and beetroot salad which was absolutely divine. Dandelion can also be used medicinally as it has many detoxifying properties. Pretty good for a weed I think. __________________ Home garden with orchids and vegetable gardening

05-14-2009, 09:18 AM	#4
ConsiderThis Green Thumb Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico Posts: 58	Oh WOW! That is so neat to know!!!!! Thank you, Agapanthus! I had no idea that you could eat the flowers! (dandelion flowers) My mouth is watering!!!! I had a lot of dandelions this spring, banks of them. I was a little daunted until I saw how many bees there were nuzzling into them. Here, where the soil is thick, heavy clay, dandelions do a stupendous job of sending their roots down into the soil that is nearly impenetrable for other plants, and making it possible for grasses and things to grow around them... I had solar put in and the dug up area was very slippery after rain or if I watered, so the dandelions change that. One thing I read about them that makes them seem valuable in other ways is that they bring up iron from deep in the ground, so when I put the ones I do pull into my compost I think about how I'm making iron available to other plants that can't send their roots as deep. Thanks so much for the information about the flowers being edible!!!!! . __________________ http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com Your fingernails reflect your health -- Learn some warning signs -- Karen Kline

05-15-2009, 12:56 AM	#5
Agapanthus Green Gardener Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cape Town Posts: 11	You also provided me with so much information about Dandelion. I am in awe when I think of this 'weed'. A word of caution though - Make sure you eat the right species. The edible species is the Taraxacum officinale. I think my must go back to ask for the Dandelion and beetroot salad recipe. __________________ Home garden with orchids and vegetable gardening

05-15-2009, 03:16 PM	#6
ConsiderThis Green Thumb Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico Posts: 58	I too would LOVE that recipe!!!! Do you know how to identify the Taraxacum officinale? __________________ http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com Your fingernails reflect your health -- Learn some warning signs -- Karen Kline

05-18-2009, 01:08 AM	#7
Agapanthus Green Gardener Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cape Town Posts: 11	Strange enough - I always sound that note of caution, but I cannot think of other types of Dandelion that grows here. My mother, some thirty years ago, brought home some Dandelion seeds from England and we have been growing those since I can remember. Actually it grows itself being self-seeding, perennial, and all. To tell you the truth - I always just look for the bright yellow flowers and the jagged-toothed leaves. Fortunately my mother brought the edible type home. __________________ Home garden with orchids and vegetable gardening

05-21-2009, 02:24 AM	#9
Agapanthus Green Gardener Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cape Town Posts: 11	You can addsome onion of any kind, to reduce the bitterness of the Dandelion. ANd oh yes - the promised recipe: Dandelion and Beetroot salad THis salad can be served hot or cold. Ingredients: 2 cups of Dandeion leaves roughly torn 2 cups of Dandelion flowers approx. 6 cooked beetroots, peeled and thinly sliced. 1 cup of chopped celery. Dressing: 1 cup of brown grape vinegar 1 cup of brown sugar 2 teaspoons of mustard powder 1 teaspoon of ground coriander (Dhanya seeds / Cilantro seeds) half a teaspoon of ground cloves. Method: Mix the Dandelion leaves and flowers with the beetroot slices and celery. Heat the vinegar, sugar and mustard and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the Coriander and the Cloves. Pour the hot dressing over them and either serve hot sprinkled with Dandelion flowers and parsley or leave until it is cold. Hope you enjoy this one. __________________ Home garden with orchids and vegetable gardening

05-21-2009, 01:21 PM	#10
ConsiderThis Green Thumb Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico Posts: 58	OMG that sounds SO good!!!!! My mouth is literally watering! I didn't grow beets this year, so I'll have to be patient... Now, the big question is where to put the recipe in my computer so that I can be reminded of it and find it when the dandelions are blooming again... __________________ http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com Your fingernails reflect your health -- Learn some warning signs -- Karen Kline

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