Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: willowman on March 21, 2009, 07:33

Title: Wild garlic
Post by: willowman on March 21, 2009, 07:33

A large area of my flower bed has become covered by what I always thought was wild garlic. It certainly smells of garlic when I tread on it.
However it looks nothing like the pictures I've seen on websites. They all show broad leaves like Lily of the Valley, whereas mine has long thin leaves more like grass. It does, though, have a small bulb at the base.
There's so much of it I would like to use it in the kitchen, but would naturally like to be certain it is wild garlic before I use it.
Sorry, have not got piccy, my techno side hasn't worked out how to post them yet!

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: willowman on March 21, 2009, 08:17

Sorry, forgot my question.......which was.......
Is this a variety of wild garlic and is it safe to eat?
Thanks.

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: argaric on March 21, 2009, 09:11

does it look like this?

http://data2.blog.de/media/810/1262810_d6b641ee7e_m.jpg

Regards,
  Aragric

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Jodie A on March 21, 2009, 09:15

Sounds more like field garlic, we have it in our garden.  Have a google for that, and yes I believe it is edible, the stalks are quite tough, but nothing to stop you crushing a bulb or two for flavouring.

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: woodburner on March 21, 2009, 09:48

Could it be garlic chives?

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Can you eat that? on March 21, 2009, 10:32

Could it be  one of the more stronger flavored chives ?

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Salmo on March 21, 2009, 21:30

It is probably field garlic. Field garlic and wild onion (also called crow garlic) are similar with narrow leaves. The flower head of the field garlic has 2 bracts round the flower head, wild onion has only 1 bract. The head of both forms bulbils. They are edible.

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Ice on March 21, 2009, 21:36

This is wild garlic, it's just outside my door.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u190/Dee56_photos/001-12.jpg)

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: willowman on March 21, 2009, 21:38

Thanks for the ideas.
Agaric, no it's not got such broad leaves. The leaves are much thinner and longer, so long in fact that they tend to flop over just like very long grass. The bulb is more rounded and white, like a miniature cocktail onion.
It is very  rampant and has appeared very quickly this spring presumably because bulbs were left in the ground last year, when it covered a large area (about 2 yards x 3 yards - sorry only work in old money).
Will explore the possibility of it being a sort of chive - hope so 'cos there's boatloads of it!
Will also try to get photo posted.

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Ice on March 21, 2009, 21:41

A miniature cocktail onion described the bulb well.

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: willowman on March 21, 2009, 22:00

Again, thanks. Whilst typing my last reply Salmo and Ice posted. I now believe it's Field garlic. Looked at photos and video on other sites and  they look like what I've got.
Interesting Salmo is in P'boro as I'm in a village just outside, to the East.
Some websites say that it is somewhat rare! Not in my garden its not!
Good site from USA (Kitchen Garden) where lady says that basically any unknown plant that smells of either garlic or onions is safe to eat.
So will give it a go, may pickle some of the bulbs. If I'm still alive later I'll let you know how I get on.

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Ice on March 21, 2009, 22:02

I don't eat the bulbs, just use the leaves in salads, omlettes etc.

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Salmo on March 22, 2009, 00:26

Quote from: Ice on March 21, 2009, 21:36

This is wild garlic, it's just outside my door.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u190/Dee56_photos/001-12.jpg)

This is Wood Garlic, also called Ransoms.