From March the collecting season begins again: the first tender wild garlic leaves grow from the forest floor. Wild forest garlic not only tastes delicious, but is also he althy. But when should you actually harvest wild garlic – in the morning or in the evening? We have the answer.
When is the best time to harvest wild garlic?
Like all herbs, you should also harvest wild garlicbetter in the morningthan in the evening. Leaves picked in the morning are significantlymore aromaticand havemore flavor than herbs picked in the evening. Even after flowering, wild garlic loses a lot of its taste, but is still edible.
How do you harvest wild garlic correctly?
But it's not just the question of whether it's better to harvest wild garlic in the morning or evening that's important for collecting it correctly. Also make sureonly he althy ones– i.e. H. to be harvested without spots or eating spots –leaves. Cut thesewith a sharp and clean knifejust above the bottom. You can also use the stem, for example when making pesto. However, do not harvestmore than one or two leaves per plant, otherwise it will lose too much strength and will no longer sprout next year.
What else should you pay attention to when harvesting wild garlic?
In addition, when collecting wild wild garlic, you should comply with theregulations of the Federal Nature Conservation Act, otherwise it could be expensive for you in case of doubt - regardless of whether you collect the wild garlic in the morning or harvest in the evening. These especially include theseRules:
- do not collect more than for your own needs
- d. H. approx. a bouquet of hands
- don't trample plants
- don't leave official channels
You should also note that collecting and taking plants - including wild garlic and mushrooms - isgenerally prohibited in nature reserves. This also applies to species that do not themselves fall under special protection.
How long can you keep freshly picked wild garlic?
Regardless of whether it is harvested in the morning or evening, freshly picked wild garlic does not last very long. You can wrap the leaves in a damp kitchen towel as soon as you get home and store them in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for two to three days. Even placed in a vase with fresh water, the leaves last about the same amount of time. However, it is best to use them straight away, as the aroma evaporates over time. Alternatively, you can preserve the wild garlic by freezing or drying it.
Tip
Can you poison yourself with wild garlic?
In fact, you can't poison yourself with wild garlic. Even after flowering, the plant is not poisonous, as is often falsely claimed. Instead, it just loses a lot of aroma, although even the flowers can be used. But caution is still advised when collecting, because wild garlic leaves can easily be confused with those of poisonous plants that look very similar, such as lily of the valley, arum and autumn crocus.
