Topic: Help before I cook it

[Borlotti]

Had a lot of plants coming up on the allotment, and one person said they were pretty flowers, spoke to another bloke and he said it was Candula, and it was a spinach we could eat, but he didn't pick it as his wife didn't like it.  I have picked some and it is in the saucepan ready to be cooked but didn't want to murder OH, although he is a bit annoying today with the heat.  Anyone else cooked it and eaten it, or is it a flower.  We like spinach and as the ordinary spinach has bolted.  My friend did eat some raw but spat it out, but don't want to die.  :( :( :( :(  Had to come back from the allotment as it was too hot and I can't bend down as have hurt my back with all the watering.  If I get down, can't get up, and didn't want to spend a night at the allotment, although I love it normally.  So very frustrating, but at least I can still type.

[Hector]

was it this
http://www.culinarycafe.com/Flowers/Calendula.html

[grannyjanny]

My motto in life is if in doubt don't.

[Borlotti]

I think that is probably true, will have to do a bit more research first, although Nick is Italian and about 80 and knows everything, or at least thinks he does.

[Borlotti]

Think it might be calendula but threw it in the compost bin, but it does say you can eat the leaves in salad.  Will try and take a photo as I am experimenting with my digital camera.  Waiting for the weather to cool down and go to the allotment tonight.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

isn't it the petals you eat in salad?

[Borlotti]

Took pictures of the plant/weed that seems to be coming up all over the place.  Didn't eat it, anyone know what it is very please????? 

[saddad]

Looks like Amaranth to me... but I'm not advising you to eat it...  :-X

[Borlotti]

No I won't eat it, will leave it to see if it flowers, and then probably dig it up.  Got enough problems with the horsetail so don't need anymore weeds.

[PAULW]

http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php/Amaranth
looks like an interesting plant

[123b]

Hi,
As far as I know Amaranth has 3 'uses'.
1) Grown in Jamaica, known as Kalaloo, used as a spinach leaf.
2) Grown for seed, the seed can be used as a grain, can be mixed with rice 50/50, available from Health food shops!
3) A flower, very pretty

I understand that each of the above is a different plant, i.e. the leaf one is not suitable for eating the seed, the flower one is not suitable to eat.

I grew grain amaranth last year, not very successful as it was difficult to get the seeds from the flowers.

I also have some leaf amaranth seeds, but I haven't got round to growing any yet.

At our allotments leaf Amaranth is very popular with the older Jamaican allotmenteers.
Hope this helps!

[Borlotti]

Thank you for that information, will look forward to seeing the flowers.