The leaves of wild garlic are tastiest when you collect them young and before they bloom. But did you know that wild garlic can still be harvested and eaten even after it has bloomed? However, certain problems must be taken into account - for example with regard to loss of taste.
When does wild garlic bloom?
The flowering period of wild garlic beginsbeginning of May. Occasionally - depending on the weather - flowering can occur earlier or later. At the same timethe harvest season ends, as the leaves gradually become fibrous and bland.
How long does wild garlic bloom for?
The flowering period of wild garlic usually lasts betweentwo to four weeks, i.e. H. In a year with a cool spring, the wild garlic blossoms can last well into June. In another year with early flowering in April, the season ends in May.
What does the wild garlic flower look like?
Wild garlic flowers never stand alone, but always form a ball of flowers together with up to 20 individual flowers, which sits at the end of a stem that is up to 30 centimeters long and grows directly from the ground. The small, white individual flowers are star-shaped and each have six individual flowers. Like the leaves, the flowers also smell of garlic, although not nearly as intensely. Instead, the typical wild garlic aroma in the flowers is subtle or even neutral.
Can you harvest wild garlic after flowering?
It is usually said that wild garlic can no longer be collected after it has started to bloom. Many people even believe that the plant is now poisonous. Both assumptions are wrong, neither is wild garlic poisonous in any way - unless you confuse it with an actual poisonous plant - nor can you collect it after the flowering period has begun. Basically, all parts of wild garlic are edible; in addition to the leaves, you can also eat the flowers and even the tubers. The disadvantage, however, is that the plant loses a lot of its aroma after flowering and the leaves quickly become fibrous and taste bland.
How can you use wild garlic flowers?
In fact, you can also use the wild garlic flowers for all sorts of recipes and thus extend the wild garlic season a little. For example, the flowers can be soaked in vinegar or oil, which can be used to lightly flavor the liquid. They are also suitable for sprinkling salads or soups and for making flower butter. When using it, keep in mind that the wild garlic flowers taste significantly less aromatic than the leaves. By the way, the buds can also be used, for example for false capers.
Tip
How can you distinguish wild garlic from lily of the valley flowers?
The leaves of wild garlic and lily of the valley look very similar and can therefore be easily confused. However, the two species can be easily distinguished by their flowers: In contrast to the spherical inflorescences of wild garlic, the bell-shaped flowers of lily of the valley are lined up one after the other on a curved flower stalk.
