Chickweed

Discussion in 'The Green Patch' started by tulianr, Dec 27, 2014.


  1. tulianr

    tulianr Don Quixote de la Monkey

    Chickweed is an edible wild weed, that grows in most of parts of North America. The tender young leaves are a tasty addition to salads, and the older leaves can be cooked, though I haven't personally tried that yet - I've just eaten it in salads.

    I planted some in a container early this spring, for ease of gathering, and to test its tolerances to heat and cold. What I found, was that it thrives in sun and shade, in hot weather and cold, with little water or with a lot of water. It did fine as a container plant throughout this past summer, and is still doing great this winter. I've left it out on my deck in temperatures as low as twenty degrees, and the cold hasn't fazed it. My Russian Kale, which is extremely cold hardy, has suffered from the cold much more so than the chickweed.

    I've also learned that chickweed is one of the most prolific weeds in nature. I've had to pick it out of every other container which sat within ten feet of the pot in which I originally cultivated the chickweed. It would be an extreme nuisance if it wasn't so edible.

    After playing with this plant this year, if I had to select one salad green as a survival food, it would be chickweed. You practically can't kill it. It grows in all types of soils, in hot and cold, and reproduces constantly. Any of you guys and gals who do container gardening, you might want to try it. I wouldn't recommend it for garden beds though, I would imagine that it would take over pretty quickly.

    Chickweed.
     
  2. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    Love this post! Thanks @tulianr This is now on my must plant list.
     
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  3. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

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  4. tulianr

    tulianr Don Quixote de la Monkey

  5. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    It is possible.
     
  6. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

  7. tulianr

    tulianr Don Quixote de la Monkey

    What do you know? Learn something new every day.
     
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  8. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    Off topic but I have never had chicory coffee stuff. Always wanted to try it.
     
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  9. techsar

    techsar Monkey+++

    You'll either love chicory or hate it at first...it gives coffee a very different taste.

    I kinda like it ;)
     
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  10. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    The first I ever heard of it was a LONG time ago. There was a movement afoot back in the 60s to stretch the coffee bean imports (and thus coffee price) which at the time were under stress from a poor harvest. Didn't like it then, and don't now. I think, but do NOT know, that Lusienne (or something like that) is still available.
     
  11. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    it goes back a long time further, the Pioneers use Chicory to stretch coffee
     
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  12. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    This plant sounds as though it would be a good candidate for a "plant it and forget it" program near a retreat. Like has been said in another string, this could be planted on a piece of ground that was to be a retreat location along with fruit trees, berry bushes with little to no care needed. That way it can do its thing w/o taking over the garden plot later on.
     
  13. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey



    Long time back a Filipino cook on board the USS Peleliu used to brew his coffee using Chicory.;)
     
  14. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    Chickweed as a tea, is supposed to promote weight loss according to a doctor Oz. Also used as a diuretic.
     
  15. Mindgrinder

    Mindgrinder Karma Pirate Ninja|RIP 12-25-2017

    My thoughts exactly....added to my list of "things to try"....
    If it's tasty, it'll find its way to my fishin holes....though i'm not crazy if it's a poop propellant....
     
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