Sorry everyone I should have made more clear the fact that I only eat the freshest, youngest leaves. I also harvest them before the plant has flowered, as this can sometimes make the leaves taste bitter. Also, those wishing to make nettle soup should only harvest the tips of the plant. It’s well worth finding patches growing in hard-to-reach places, as they’re less likely to have suffered the attentions of dogs!
Happymarion – I’d heard about dandelion roots being ground into a coffee, but had no idea this was used in the war. Did you drink it? Did it taste good?
Dave Hamilton – thanks for the info. I’d heard of knotweed being edible but didn’t know about Himalayan balsam. Perhaps we should take a different approach to eradicating them from our wild areas by eating them! Just a word of caution to everyone – Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam are two of the most invasive weeds in the UK and cause huge problems – out-competing with native plants and upsetting the local ecosystem. Don’t be tempted to start cultivating them in your garden!
Kate
