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.
was it this
http://www.culinarycafe.com/Flowers/Calendula.html
My motto in life is if in doubt don't.
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.
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.
isn't it the petals you eat in salad?
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?????
Looks like Amaranth to me... but I'm not advising you to eat it... :-X
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.
http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php/Amaranth
looks like an interesting plant
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!
Thank you for that information, will look forward to seeing the flowers.