[lacewing]

Has anyone tried growing Samphire?  I put some seeds in moduls last September, the seedlings are up but I'm not sure what to do next.

[sunshineband]

http://gardeningblog.mirror.co.uk/growing-samphire/

This article might be helpful 

[compostqueen]

What does the seed packet advise?

[Aunt Sally]

Good growing guide here.

I often see it growing by the coast and wonder what it tastes like.

http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/vegetable_plants/samphire_plant/

[gobs]

Salty.

[tadpole]

Good growing guide here.

I often see it growing by the coast and wonder what it tastes like.

http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/vegetable_plants/samphire_plant/

There are two types, Marsh samphire, and Rock samphire,  the marsh samphire is the more woody of the two, and it's best to only eat the top inch or so of the plant, it's a delicate salty chlorophyll taste sort of like asparagus tips.
Rock samphire  can have a unpleasant hit of diesel fuel to it, if picked at the wrong time, but more often than not it is sweeter than Marsh samphire. Freshly picked and Lightly boiled with a small knob of butter or (my favourite way,  is to cook it, and then add to the fat (not the white gunge you get from cheap stuff left over from cheap stuff)  frying bacon.

[gobs]

I've only ever seen rock samphire seeds for sale.

Are you growing them Tadpole or just foraging?

[lacewing]

Thanks for the links, good information there. I got the seeds from a fellow plot holder who has now moved on. Not even sure whether it is rock or march Samphire.  It will be intresting to see how the plants progress,  must remember to water with salt water.

[tadpole]

I've only ever seen rock samphire seeds for sale.

Are you growing them Tadpole or just foraging?

Foraging, they are so abundant near here that to grow them would be a waste of time.

[tosca100]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm one of my favourite veggies, along with psb.

We used to be able to get it locally gathered, and bought loads while it was in season. But last year the local farm shop stopped stocking it as they couldn't sell enough.

I'd never buy it, but Asda have it from Egypt.

Might try growing some.

[solway cropper]

It grows plentifully on the marshes round here but I rarely bother gathering it. If I want something that tastes like salty cabbage I'll just put more salt on my cabbage.

A lot of these 'gourmet' foods are just an excuse for ripping people off. It's useful to know what wild plants are edible but there really isn't much point in trying to grow them when you can have a plot full of 'proper' vegetables.

Of course, when society breaks down, supermarkets have all been looted and you're stuck on a salt marsh it might be handy to know what samphire actually looks like.

[gobs]

I've only ever seen rock samphire seeds for sale.

Are you growing them Tadpole or just foraging?

Foraging, they are so abundant near here that to grow them would be a waste of time.

  Good point.

Just was interested, how really easy it was to grow out of sea environment, because all say it was, just noon have any plants though.

[Fisherman]

It grows plentifully on the marshes round here but I rarely bother gathering it. If I want something that tastes like salty cabbage I'll just put more salt on my cabbage.

A lot of these 'gourmet' foods are just an excuse for ripping people off. It's useful to know what wild plants are edible but there really isn't much point in trying to grow them when you can have a plot full of 'proper' vegetables.

Of course, when society breaks down, supermarkets have all been looted and you're stuck on a salt marsh it might be handy to know what samphire actually looks like.

Well Solway Cropper I think that is a bit rash. I like nothing better than a bit of local samphire either freshly cooked as a vegetable or pickled in malt vinegar. Only problem is that its only in abundance in July / August on our local salt marshes. When its not available its back to salty cabbage and brussels sprouts, delicious

[tosca100]

It grows plentifully on the marshes round here but I rarely bother gathering it. If I want something that tastes like salty cabbage I'll just put more salt on my cabbage.

A lot of these 'gourmet' foods are just an excuse for ripping people off. It's useful to know what wild plants are edible but there really isn't much point in trying to grow them when you can have a plot full of 'proper' vegetables.

Of course, when society breaks down, supermarkets have all been looted and you're stuck on a salt marsh it might be handy to know what samphire actually looks like.

Hmmmm, our N Wales samphire tastes nothing like cabbage. It grows prolifically around here too, but I have limited mobility so leave the collecting to those who need to earn a few quid. It is not considered a gourmet food around here and when you can find it is cheap enough. I love the texture of lightly steamed samphire with butter and lemon, or with pasta, or in a salad, or a frittata............

Unfortunately we don't all have a plot for growing veggies, and will not be able to get one as long as we live here, so we grow what we can in our little garden and in pots on the drive and patio. So we grow what we really like and has a higher value.

[snowdrops]

I'm in the yes camp here. We have a fish man who comes from Grimsby & I positively drool when the Samphire is on his waggon. I love it lightly steamed with a knob of butter.Life doesn't get much better on those days.