| Edible Flowers |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-612 |
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Q: I'd like to grow some flowers that are edible. How should I care for them?
A: (Jessie Mack Burns, DIY gardening expert) A number of common flowers are both beautiful and edible. Here are some suggestions for growing them and serving them. - Both the soft, green leaves and the blooms of nasturtiums are edible (figure A).
- Simply harvest the leaves or blossoms using scissors. Consider serving them in a salad (figure B). You can also use the seed pods of nasturtium as a substitute for capers.
- Viola blossoms make an attractive garnish for desserts. Add them to the edge of the plate or the icing to dress up a wedge of cake (figure C).
- Scented geraniums are also edible. The fragrant leaves can be torn into pieces (figure D) and steeped into teas.
- Pineapple sage is another favorite. The leaves can be used to make corn fritters.
- Grow edible plants in ordinary pots using organic humus as a potting-soil. Avoid using synthetic fertilizers or soil treatments on plants you intend to eat. Grow them organically, using only natural soil-supplements.
- Tip: When harvesting edible herbs or blossoms such as lavender, place the stems in a container of water to keep them fresh until you're ready to prepare them. You can also keep blooms fresh by laying them between layers of dampened paper-towel.
RESOURCES :
The Edible Container Garden: Growing Fresh Food in Small Spaces
Model: 0684854619
Author: Michael Guerra
160 pages
(March 2000)
Scribner Book Co./Simon and Schuster
New York, NY 10020
Phone: 212-698-7000
A Handbook of Native American Herbs
Model: 0877736995
Author: Alma R. Hutchens
Herbs: Gardens, Decorations, and Recipes
Model: 0609803522
Author: Emelie Tolley
August, 1998
Clarkson Potter/The Crown Publishing Group/Random House
Website: www.randomhouse.com
Herbs in Pots: Artful and Practical Herbal Containers
Model: 1883010527
Author: Rob Proctor and David Macke
(July, 1999)
Interweave Press Inc.
Website: interweave.com
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