Are dandelion roots tasty?

@Redwing Ooh, I do like that one, Redwing! Nice compact bushy habit. Hope I can get an orange-flowered one like that, would be perfect for my small garden!

Well don't just sit there @Selleri, ask the degus if the roots are tasty, mate!

Nick

 

Hi @Nikolaos it grew and flowered pretty well for me in a very exposed Notts garden. I think it was a bit short lived though

 

Awww, how sweet @Selleri , what's his/ her name?

@Nikolaos I've got a Berberis Darwinii, dwarf variety. It grows to around a meter high and wide, I think. I plan to put in a pot as it's been swamped in it's current position. I did have the large tree like variety but it got blown over in a storm. Both are very good for Bees and the birds like the purple fruits.

I googled Dandelions and found lots of interesting information. I pick the leaves and a few flowers for my bunnies and piggy and we occasionally have them in salads. I'm going to dig a few up and try the roots. They can be roasted or cooked on the hob like carrots

 

Not sure if it's the same one but Kate Bradbury did this on a tv program, it was really good.

 

I think my berberis is one of the Darwinii, Nick.

It may have been her but I don’t think so.

 

Thanks Redwing and lucius! Yours sound like this one...

Berberis darwinii 'Compacta'

I'm actually considering getting a larger darwinii now because I think my front garden could just about accommodate it. But the one mentioned in my RHS encyclopedia ('Flame') which has orange-red flowers and would be perfect in terms of size (5ft) doesn't seem to be available anywhere! Annoying!

Interesting, let us know what they're like! Was just looking at search results on the web and it seems like harvesting them in the Spring is better flavour-wise, they are less bitter and softer. But apparently harvesting in Autumn is better in terms of medicinal benefits. Might try steaming some in Spring!

Harvesting and Using Dandelion Roots - The Natural Detoxifier

Thanks for that Caroline, always nice to get input from someone who has experience with gardening in Notts. Don't think I'll risk it tho, too many disappointments already with less hardy plants! I'd only whittle about it!

Nick

 

If that's the right one it's available on the crocus website.

 

Thanks @mazambo, but I think that's the species at Crocus, which is much larger...

Berberis darwinii - Darwin's barberry

Appreciate you having a look around anyway, mate. Wish I could fit that one in my front garden somewhere, but it's just too large, unfortunately.

Thought you wildlife gardeners might be interested in this list, I found it useful because it's a short list of Spring-flowering pollinator-friendly plants. I find late Spring a tricky time in terms of providing food for pollinators, perhaps the toughest period of all.

10 AGM plants to please pollinators in April / RHS Gardening

I have planted a pulmonaria and a Bergenia 'Angel Kiss' this month, I should have Spring covered when I've added the Prunus incisa, Bergenia 'Eroica' and Ajuga 'Catlin's Giant'. The last one will hopefully attract orange tip butterflies which I love but have never had visit my garden!

Nick

 

Just had a thought. You could look at berberis at garden centres now, see the few flowers that there are to check colour. You may find something you like that would be suitable for you.

 

I don’t think late spring is problematic for pollinators; there are masses of wild plants. Of course all good nectar sources help, and we all know they need it. A good tip is to visit garden centres on warm sunny days in spring and take note of which plants the bees etc are visiting. Of course this only works in daylight hours and there are many nighttime pollinators, especially moths but the advantage is you can see what you like as well as what the insects like.

 

Great idea, thanks!

Yes, I already plan to do that next year, but the two local garden centres here don't typically seem to have many pollinator-friendly plants available. Which is why I buy most of mine online. You're probably right about late Spring, but I'd like to have more pollinator-friendly plants in my own garden that flower in May. I have Crataegus monogyna and Geranium phaeum, but nothing else that I can think of and these two only seem to attract bees.

Nick

 

a really excellent plant for a shady spot. I’ve ever seen Bullfinches and Goldfinches feeding on the seeds. I think a lot of the geraniums are good for pollinators. Alliums are excellent too and you can plant them now.

 

Interesting, didn't know birds liked them too! I have quite a few geraniums but G. 'Johnson's Blue' is by far the most popular with bees here, another early flowerer but slightly later than the phaeum. Perovskia did well too, despite being a very young plant, until the Sedum spectabile flowered. Now that one is completely covered in them! Alliums are on my list, but so many to choose from I find it hard to decide which!

Nick