Six days after I noticed that the leek scape in my post called “You Can’t Eat the Flower and Have It Too” showed its first little bulge, it started looking round and firm, like it was ready to pop out. However, its outer covering had turned brown and dead-looking. So I got out my pointy little titanium scissors and gently cut away at the top
Inside was a bumpy protuberance that vaguely resembled a morel mushroom, only green. Not sure why, but I blew on it and to my surprise one of the bumps jumped out at me and opened into a tiny bell-shaped white flower. So I pulled the withered material back and one by one the little flowers began to shoot out and open up. In minutes the globe had quadrupled in size. The next day, after about 2/3 of the little blossoms had fully opened, 5 or 6 diminutive brown seeds could be observed dancing in rings around the tops of the open flowers.
Two questions answered!
- Can you get a leek cutting to bolt indoors in water? Yes!
- What color would this one be if it opened, as they can range in color from white through various shades of pink to red? Definitely not red!
But the 3rd question, and I did not cheat and look up the answer because if it didn’t open up I didn’t want to face the disappointment, was: Can you eat the flower once it has opened (or more properly, would you want to!?) Yes, and YES!
I took a picture to show you guys first, and then cut off a few tiny blossoms to taste. They were quite good. Google says “all” allium flowers are edible, and that these are very good sprinkled over pasta alfredo. Mmm, with pecorino and black pepper. However, they should qualify that statement by noting tat all of the different kinds of allium used as vegetables are edible, because, apparently, all parts of the ornamental alliums are said to be somewhat toxic to humans, and highly toxic to cats and dogs. There also are some deadly plants that are not alliums, but might be mistaken for them in the wild.
Have you ever eaten an onion, garlic, or leek flower? Would you?
I did not even try to eat blooms
Vidocka, you are missing out on something good.
Maybe I’ll try and I will like it ?
If you grow leeks in your garden no sense in letting the flowers go to waste.
I would totally eat a leek, but I still prefer garlic…
I eat both, but leeks grow faster in water on the window sill than garlic scapes which in turn grow faster than garlic bulbs. All 3 are tasty superfoods which prevent many illnesses.
I can’t grow enough garlic to keep up with my habit…
Exactly! There is no such thing as too much garlic. I love passing through Gilroy, because it smells so good!
No such thing as too much garlic, but sadly there is such a thing as not enough garlic…
I have only eaten the flowers of chives. I’ve never grown any other allium that I let flower.
My brother has a few of the ornamental alium flowers, but a vandal ruined one of them this summer. Can you even imagine it?
I can believe it. Are you in the Bay Area now?
For a few days, will come back up here before fall, might take 101.
Give me some notice if you do. Maybe we can go out to lunch when you come through. My favorite place to eat closes at 2, but we could find somewhere else if you have to come through after 1:30.
I was in the Bay Area when you asked that 12 days ago, but now I am in the desert. Did you hear about that camper who was shot and killed in a State Park in Malibu? He was sleeping in his tent with two very small children.
I didn’t hear about it, but I’m not surprised. I used to feel safe in campgrounds, but now I wouldn’t. People don’t camp for the same reasons these days as they did 30 years ago — at least not all of them.
Thanks, I have only eaten a few of the tiny florets per day, so most of the flower is still intact.
Not a very veggie person (although I do eat them)… so I guess I’ll pass on these unless they’re really tasty or really good for health …
They have some of the same nutritional profile as a banana, but for some reason I just don’t care much for bananas. They taste like garlic only milder and sweeter.
Ok, that sounds pretty edible…
and oh… I don’t care much about bananas too!!
In fact I find banana having a weird texture in my mouth!!
These are safe for humans, Albert, but not for some animals. Someone sent me an email today about eating avocado pits, which I would certainly not eat, at least not twice, rflol.
I have tried leeks when I was a kid, I should try them again.. Havent much thought about it.
It is all in the preparation, Kim, but the very young tender shoots are good as is, and now that I’ve gotten to taste one, the leek flower is a delicacy!
I kind of figured that. I remember the spinach mom used to open from a can, compared to fresh spinach..what a difference. I like just about anything though. I love food.
Never tried to but I know if it was good and healthy I would try it.
Ooops, see below, please.
Hmmm… I will eat anything as long as I know that something is safe to eat.
It is very healthy, RasmaSandra, and also, in my opinion, delicious.