You need to gather them in the spring BEFORE they bud. In Germany you will see people walking the fields after the farmers just did the spring plow, picking up the dandelions to make a spring tonic.
Back in the 60’s, in early spring, my mom would send us kids out to cut dandelions. She would make a hot bacon dressing loaded with onions and pour it over the greens. It was a combination that made them palatable.
I also know people who would gather the dandelion flowers then batter and fry them. They are actually pretty good.
I dried the flowers and used them for medicine but I like the roots better. They are very potent.
Here's something else you can do. If you collect enough of the roots and dried them in the oven, they also make excellent coffee substitute and not only that, heals all kind of diseases.
Dandelions used to be plentiful in my neighborhood, and especially on my lawn. Several years ago, most of my neighbors began paying for "lawncare", which involves a team of about eight guys (illegals), with gas powered leaf blowers, huge stand on lawnmowers, and other very noisy equipment. Nearly every day of the week someone's lawn was being tended. We couldn't even be outside due to the noise, dust and pollen. We never used any of those services (our lawns are pretty small), and we would still have Dandelions, but I noticed this year not one single Dandelion. The chemical weed spray has killed them off. Upside; most of the illegals have left, and instead of the noise and spraying constantly, only a few neighbors now have lawn care. Maybe our Dandelions will return. I hope so.
Leaves are good in salad and the flowers make a good tea.
bitter that's why I don't like them in salad
You are clearly not using enough salad dressing! kek
You can never have too much salad dressing!!!
I especially like the 16 oz single serving bottles! 😉😁
LOL
This.
You need to gather them in the spring BEFORE they bud. In Germany you will see people walking the fields after the farmers just did the spring plow, picking up the dandelions to make a spring tonic.
Oh. I understand now.
As a child i harvested spring dnadelion and fiddleheads with my grandmother almost every year.
Back in the 60’s, in early spring, my mom would send us kids out to cut dandelions. She would make a hot bacon dressing loaded with onions and pour it over the greens. It was a combination that made them palatable.
I also know people who would gather the dandelion flowers then batter and fry them. They are actually pretty good.
I dried the flowers and used them for medicine but I like the roots better. They are very potent.
Here's something else you can do. If you collect enough of the roots and dried them in the oven, they also make excellent coffee substitute and not only that, heals all kind of diseases.
Dandelions used to be plentiful in my neighborhood, and especially on my lawn. Several years ago, most of my neighbors began paying for "lawncare", which involves a team of about eight guys (illegals), with gas powered leaf blowers, huge stand on lawnmowers, and other very noisy equipment. Nearly every day of the week someone's lawn was being tended. We couldn't even be outside due to the noise, dust and pollen. We never used any of those services (our lawns are pretty small), and we would still have Dandelions, but I noticed this year not one single Dandelion. The chemical weed spray has killed them off. Upside; most of the illegals have left, and instead of the noise and spraying constantly, only a few neighbors now have lawn care. Maybe our Dandelions will return. I hope so.
I started making dandelion tincture last year with them.
I’m guessing the coffee substitute tastes similar to chicory? I have had a hot chicory drink from the north of France and liked it.
The young ones, especially in spring are no more bitter than romaine lettuce.
I will try it early.
"bitter that's why I don't like them in salad"
I was always told that only the young, tender leaves are good to eat; the fully-grown ones are unpleasantly bitter.
I will pick them young.