wild leek tops?

[Scott M]

Thought I spotted some wild leeks yesterday, but didn't try pulling them up to confirm. Anybody have a good way of identifying and distinguishing from leaf characteristics? Or just give them a pull and go from there? I'll be back to the spot on Monday to try it again.

[Sheephead Slayer]

The leaves are about 8 inches long and 2 inches wide. The stalk turns purplish as it enters the ground. Bring a shovel as they tend to break trying to pull them the roots hold on pretty well. If they smell like garlicy onions you found them, I just made the best potato,ham,leek soup ever last night!

Good luck

[flipper]

I took a picture of a leek just the other day.

That is actually two or three plants there.

I use a garden trowel to get the bulb out of the ground.

We like to chop them up and put them in a lettuce salad.

[flipper]

I have also eaten the fiddlehead ferns but I find them to be a bit bitter. I think back in the day people were just anxious to get something green in their diet.

[Urbanflyguy]

The entire leek is edible and the leaf is actually tastey in salads just clean em and eat em or try tossing em into the dehydrater as they are a very tastey spice too boot. In addition to the length remeber they are normaly just 2 leaves per leak but can be 3 ( i rarely see three) otherwise im sure the pics will help you. You can usually find wild ginger near the leaks which is also very eddible.

[Scott M]

I found some yesterday. A trowel is advised. Takes a while when using a stick or your pocketknife.

[Wookiee]

Nice ramps!

[daylate]

How do you identify wild ginger?

[themagicbus]

what kind of ground should i be looking in for the leeks?

thanks

[Urbanflyguy]

ginger grows in clusters, one leaf per stem the leaves kinda look like a spade (as in the card suit) they are a thicker looking leaf and the stem rising to the leaf is white and fuzzy the bottom of the leaf has white veins and some whitish hairs too . The root system grows in a mat above ground they are about about 1/8 inch in dia, i have never dug them up to see if there is a bigger root underground as ive been told if you just cut the above ground ones they will come back next year. When the root is broken or mashed there is a very distinct ginger smell. hope that helps there. As far as ground for the leaks river valleys are the only place ive found them not to say they wont grow else where, i jsut fish rivers alot so im bound to come across them. The soils are always a darker richer soil and its normally moist. I have found them in dryer soil but its still the type that would make almost black soil when wet. They grow can be in single groups small clusters or huge groups like this one good hunting

[Scott M]

I found all of mine around lakes and rivers in rich soils. It's found into Canada so there might be a few in your neck of the woods, magic bus.

[themagicbus]

aha

an excuse to go play at the river.

thanks guys for the help

will post if i find some

[themagicbus]

looked around the lake and river edges some next to effie but never did find any.

will keep trying though

[cribbageboy]

What is a good time of year to pick/eat wild leeks?