Between April and May, the dandelion is the first wild herb to visually enhance wild meadows in parks, roadsides and other areas with a really eye-catching color. Why just keep walking past him? Why don't you just collect it?
When is the best time to collect dandelions?
Dandelion leaves should be collected in April when they are still young, delicate green and between 5-10 cm long. The flowers can be harvested during flowering once the morning dew has dried and they have fully opened.
When do you collect the leaves?
The dandelion leaves, which are ideal for wild herb salads but can also be used to make a tea infusion, should be collected when they are still young. They then have a delicate green color and a length between 5 and 10 cm.
The harvest time for the leaves comes immediately after they sprout in April. However, always leave individual leaves on each plant so that it is not weakened too much and may even die!
How to collect the leaves?
Armed with a cloth bag, a basket or something else, we start collecting. Pick the individual leaves, being careful not to expose them to direct sunlight for too long after collecting them. Otherwise they quickly lose strength and become limp.
When is it time to collect the flowers?
At the time of flowering, the harvest time for the flowers has come. When the morning dew has dried and the flowers have fully opened, you can collect them.
What should you pay attention to when collecting the flowers?
Some milky sap is often released from the stems when the flowers are collected. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to wear gloves. Act quickly and temporarily place the flowers in a screw-top jar, bag or bag, for example. To prevent the flowers from closing again, they should be processed within a short time.
Process, dry or freeze after collection
The edible flowers and leaves can now be processed or preserved:
- eat plain or in salads
- juicing or blending
- cooking
- soak in oil
- make a tincture
- drying
- freeze
Tip
Dandelion seeds can also be collected, for example to grow dandelions in your own garden.
