I noticed the other day that the claytonia (miner's lettuce) was starting to flower now that our spring has warmed up. This was a sure sign that we either had to harvest it or let the plants go to seed.
The pretty white flowers seem to emerge from the center of each cupped leaf. If I didn't know any better, I would have never guessed that this interesting looking plant was edible.
We harvested enough for several salads and there's much more to be had. The leaves are fairly delicate, succulent and only slightly crisp. To me, claytonia tastes sort of like spinach only lighter, sweeter and milder. We like it simply dressed with a lemon vinaigrette.
Do you trim the stems of those little beauties before eating?
ReplyDeleteThough tiny, the blooms look lovely.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you posted on the flavor. I purchased some seeds to overwinter this year and had no idea what it tastes like.
ReplyDeleteIt is such a pretty green!
Oh how I wish I was harvesting the same. After a year of trying, I finally have Claytonia germinating- YAY!!!! I LOVE the stuff in salads.
ReplyDeleteChristian - Nope. The stems aren't tough at all.
ReplyDeletePretty little plants, thanks for sharing your taste test, now I'll have to get some seeds for coming winter.
ReplyDeleteAre the little flowers edible, too, or just the plain leaves? Miner's lettuce grows as a weed around here, but I've been nervous to forage without knowing too much about it!
ReplyDeleteKara, yes the flowers are edible too if picked young enough. I hear that harvesting claytonia in the wild is best done during the cooler months.
ReplyDeleteI've never grown miner's lettuce. I'm going to have to give it a try now that I hear how good tasting it is. The leaves look so delicate!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty little plant.
ReplyDeleteThat is a nice haul! Isn't Claytonia delicious! I have been snipping leaves from a volunteer plant, and have a couple of six packs of starts to put out. Just wrote a blog entry on Claytonia http://fromseedtoscrumptious.blogspot.com/2011/04/miners-lettuce.html
ReplyDeleteWe have clatonia growing wild. It kept the miners from getting scurvy during the winter here in California (so they say).Most of my neighbors consider it a weed.
ReplyDeleteI discovered this green this year and really like it. I am purposely letting it go to seed and want to save the seed. Have you saved seed before?
ReplyDeleteNever grown Claytonia but I am thinking I should after seeing what a nice plant it is and hearing your description of the taste. Your photographs are always so beautiful. Do you do photography as a career or hobby?
ReplyDeleteI have seen it before and thought I would like to try growing it, but now you've definately wetted my appetite with your surving suggestion
ReplyDeletepretty and tasty I will be getting some seeds.
ReplyDeleteThis plant resists my desire to grow it and it is so cute too! Very nice looking harvest. I hope this year will be the year I finally get some to do their thing.
ReplyDeleteVeggie Garden Cook - No I have not saved seed but I hear that you let the plant go to seed, it volunteers very readily. I think I might let one go to seed and see what happens.
ReplyDeletekitsapFG - Not as career. The only time I really crank out the camera is when I'm out in the garden. Now that Jonathan is a bit older now, I would love to go on more road trips and snap some nature photos.
You always grow such interesting things! I was contemplating this green for next winter, and now I will defintely be trying it out. Beautiful harvest.
ReplyDeleteYou garden continues to amaze me. We had such a record breaking chill in the Northwest, that I can only match you in Miner's Lettuce, and that's because it grows wild here. ;-)
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