can i take and eat watercress from the local river??

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Chookster

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can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« on: September 22, 2009, 20:16 »
is it safe to eat fresh growing watercress from my local river?? there's nothing to stop me actually getting it but i don't want to poison myself of course! ::)

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poultrygeist

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2009, 20:19 »
Depends what's upstream. If it's anything remotely industrial, I wouldn't.  :tongue2:

ROb 8)

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Chookster

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2009, 20:24 »
nope don't think so, just a lovely park and ducks...

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hamstergbert

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2009, 20:30 »
Kent is not too well supplied with moorland sheep, but still be aware please of what livestock has access to the river over the nearest couple of miles upstream as there is a (generally small) potential for liver fluke to be harboured in watercress.
The Dales - probably fingerprint marks where God's hand touched the world

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Chookster

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2009, 20:46 »
aaah, yes - i did hear a murmour warning about that a year or so ago when i vaguely asked my dad.

can i grow it at home? sounds a bit hit and miss.

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peapod

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2009, 20:48 »
I really really wouldnt, you have no idea what goes into the river. Even if it looks clean!
You can grow it in your own pond at home, providing its not fed by a stream, and you wash it really really well.

EDIT Did I say really really often enough?  :lol:
"I think the carrot infinitely more fascinating than the geranium. The carrot has mystery. Flowers are essentially tarts. Prostitutes for the bees. There is, you'll agree, a certain je ne sais quoi oh so very special about a firm young carrot" Withnail and I

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Ice

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2009, 20:50 »
It's easy to grow at home and you don't need running water.  Get some from the supermarket, stick it in some water until it grows roots and plant in compost.  Keep well watered and out of direct sunlight.  Grew some myself that way this year.
Cheese makes everything better.

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Chookster

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2009, 20:52 »
 :D  right...

i'm really really going to try that.  Tomorrow I shall really really go to the supermarket LOL  :D :happy:

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azubah

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2009, 21:06 »
It's easy to grow at home and you don't need running water.  Get some from the supermarket, stick it in some water until it grows roots and plant in compost.  Keep well watered and out of direct sunlight.  Grew some myself that way this year.

I grew mine from seed. Just keep it well watered. It is very easy to grow.

It is as clean as a lettuce if you grow it yourself, but if you take it from a river it may harbour something that you don't want.
« Last Edit: September 22, 2009, 21:08 by azubah »

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peapod

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #9 on: September 22, 2009, 21:07 »
Chookster thats a really really good idea :D

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Etherelda

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2009, 21:13 »
like my silly geography teacher. 'Its perfectly safe to drink out of this stream, we are so close to the source'.......


We then walk upstream and find a very decomposed sheep carcass lying through the stream with the intestines bobbing up and down in the flow.
"Do not sit supine in God's Waiting Room."

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peapod

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #11 on: September 22, 2009, 21:18 »
YUK!!!  :tongue2: :tongue2: :tongue2:

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wighty

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #12 on: September 22, 2009, 22:05 »
When I lived on the mainland we had the Blackwater River flowing along the bottom of our  garden (Surrey/Hampshire Border).  Our neighbour used to water his veg plot by 'scooping' water out of the river.  He complained to the local Water Board because the  weed that grew progrifitaly (PHONETIC SPELLING) and they told him it was illegal to take water for horticultural purposes from running water and they could sue him! Removal of watercress from a wild running water course could be seen in the same light.  (I don't know for sure, just guessing).

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zazen999

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #13 on: September 22, 2009, 22:27 »
I grow my celery like Ice said, but instead of keeping it well watered, I keep it in a gravel tray that always has an inch or so of water in it......thus keeping it wet at all times. So, I imagine Watercress will like those same conditions.

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peapod

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Re: can i take and eat watercress from the local river??
« Reply #14 on: September 22, 2009, 22:30 »
Ive never grown watercress.  OH and I were pondering it last year (see what I did there?  :lol: ::) )

Does anyone know if it takes over? Ill never grow aquatic mint again  :lol:



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