Monday, October 27, 2008

Do you eat flowers?

t1311



This plant is very easy to grow and is often chosen for children just interested in growing a plant from seed. I can confirm that, I did little to them yet they bloomed all summer. And all summer while I enjoyed the blooms of my Nasturtium (Tropaeolum), I never knew how edible they were. You heard me right, I could have eaten any part of the plant or blooms.

Most often it is the flower and leaf that is eaten, especially added to salad for a boost of color and it offers a slight peppery taste (reminiscent of watercress). The flowers or leaves are also sometimes used in stir fry. The leaves are more intensely flavored, but the blooms are a prettier addition. You can use them whole or chopped as a garnish in soups, butters, spreads, cakes, etc. You could even stuff the blooms with cream cheese, for instance, for a unique hors d’ouvere. Or maybe add some blooms to your sandwiches, or flavor vinegar.

And if you’re looking for something to use in place of capers you can harvest the unripe seed pods and pickle with hot vinegar, although they taste more peppery. Or grind some seeds in a pepper mill and use in place of black pepper. You can eat the tuber (root) as well, although I haven’t found details on exactly how that is recommended.

Nasturtiums also repel many garden pests, but attract black fly aphids, so sometimes people use them amongst crops in the hopes that the crop will be saved. And they attract beneficial insects.

Why would I grow anything else? I think next year I will try eating them, but for this year they are done, it’s too late. What about you, would you try them? Have you tried them?

t1312



I took these photos with the 15mm fisheye lens.

Can you believe we had snowflakes yesterday?  Already!  I think that's the earliest I've ever seen flakes.

29 comments:

  1. Who would of thought that not only could you eat these plants, but so many different ways? WOW.

    As far as snow, hard to believe it after looking at your wonderful pics.

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  2. Snow? Yes, I can believe it. We're under a Winter Storm Warning.....6-12 inches! And yeah....it IS early!! As far as eating flowers...YEP, I do eat flowers!! Often, if I am cooking a special birthday / anniversary dinner, I'll purchase the fresh flowers in the produce section of my local grocery store. I'm trying to think what kind of flowers were in there....maybe pansies? I have also tried other kinds of flowers....they are all pretty good! But then, you are talkin' to a girl who really loves sweets!! Beautiful photography Lisa!!

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  3. We love the Nasturtiums!! We've had to put chicken wire around ours lately because the chickens love it too!

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  4. Beautiful flowers, Lisa! And snowflakes - wow! I am hoping to see some macro photos of snowflakes :-) On our local news this morning (Washington, DC) the weatherman said "a few of you may be hearing the S-word later this week"!! Nooooo...we Mid-Atlantic wusses can't cope with snow in October :-)

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  5. What I wouldn't do for a fish eye. You guys have quite the arsenal of lenses!

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  6. no i've not eaten them, but it's possible that i might try them...depending on my mood. lol they are beautiful and so versatile i may try growing them next summer. thanks for a delightful entry. beautiful pix!

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  7. Gorgeous & educational post! I've not ever grown Nasturtiums, but you've got me interested. It's been below freezing here two nights in a row! Yikes--not ready.

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  8. Interesting - didn't know that! - I'd try - without hesitation! Try everything at least once is my motto in food.
    (with some exceptions...;))
    Cheers, Klaus

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  9. I've had them --- and other flowers. My favorite is, of course, the squash bloom. But I'm not known to prepare and serve them. (hey, I don't prepare and serve anything. heh!)

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  10. I have not eaten them but at a wedding once they had a flower on each piece of wedding cake!! it was so pretty and others did eat them! Your pictures are so pretty!!
    And we had some snow too!! I love the first snow!!

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  11. Cool. I've never eaten them, but I would try them. A few of my grad classmates would put flowers in their tea or water. It looked so pretty, but I never got to taste it.

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  12. Why yes your invited. You can bring the flowers to spice up my chicken and dumplings. :-)

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  13. Those are really pretty. I too have seen them on a wedding cake but I just didn't have the heart to eat them LOL My father will grab one whenever he can saying they are the best tasting of all the edible flowers.

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  14. Yes! I eat them. I grow them in a special pot so that my neighbourhood cat doesn't, um, you know, get near them. Let's just say she likes to BE in my garden. Have also eaten pansies and rose petals.

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  15. I've never had them but I'd be willing to try. Snowflakes - my daughter would be so jealous. :)

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  16. when I had a veggie garden I also included nastiurtiums and added them to my salads! snow already?? we still have 80 degree temps here!!

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  17. Yes I do!!! I love putting the nasturtiums in our summer salads. The kids always try one - but don't eat them because they are a little "peppery" flavored and kind of hot sometimes. And this year, I had tons of volunteers come up, so I just let them grow in the middle of the aisles. I had those dang aphids EVERYWHERE.

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  18. I knew that nasturtiums are edible and sometimes used in salads and cream cheese spreads, but I have never tried them. I've never grown them and you can't just go pick up a bouquet at the florist and toss it in your salad. Who knows what they've been treated with since they are not primarily grown for eating? I think if I ever get my garden set up next year I will grow some nasturtiums among all the veggies--for pest control and for eating. I like pretty food:o)

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  19. Yumm :)
    Sometimes I do.
    This summer I put some Calendula in our salad from time to time :)

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  20. I have, and I love them! I like all kinds of edible flowers!

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  21. I just found that out this year as well as I was researching our garden. Looking forward to trying it out.

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  22. I have not actually tasted them yet but did know you could eat them. They used to grow wildly in our yard but since we did all the mods we have not seen any! Hopefully some will drop in and I will test them out!

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  23. great post. thanks for sharing. if this economy doesn't turn, we'll all be eating some flowers and grasses and etc.

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  24. Yes, I have definitely eaten these! I eat lots of flowers, but definitely all that would be in an herb garden.

    When I was in Bermuda in the spring, these were growing wild, and the blooms are as big as my hand. I couldn't believe it.

    I have recipes for things made with violets and rose petals and lavendar. I've eaten pansies, and I'm sure other things I can't think of right now.

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  25. I love Nasturtium. My mom has them all summer... if I had known they were easy to grow from seed I would have planted them my self! Here's to next year! Fun thing for the boys to do ...

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  26. Who knew? These are beautiful photos of a beautiful flower, Lisa. Thanks for the scoop.

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  27. Snow? Huh? What? I know you are sad!!!! =(

    Yall can come to Texas and take our engagement pics!!! Think of it this way...you will get away from the snow!!! HE HE HE

    Pretty flowers!!!!

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  28. I have seen these flowers served in salads, a nice touch. Your photos are great, thanks for the details about how you took the picture, that is always the question I have!

    Happy belated WW!

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  29. Interesting question … and I think the answer is ‘no’ … unless they’re hidden in a salad or other dish. These are lovely and it’s intriguing to think of them having a peppery taste. Snowflakes??? It was in the high 70s and drier than dry here today. Sigh! I’m ready for a change in weather … seriously.
    Hugs and blessings,

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