ST201904

LIVING (^) | FORAGING
FORAGING IN
YOUR GARDEN
Wild garlic If you have a large garden
with an awkward dry and shady area
that you need to fill, you could in
theory grow wild garlic yourself.
However, it is a real thug, and will
quickly spread and take over other
plantings, so it isn’t recommended
in most situations.
Nettles, on the other hand, are
a brilliant garden plant, apart from the
obvious tendency to sting. A small
patch of nettles in a wild corner
will provide tips for you in spring, and
food for all sorts of butterflies and
other beneficial creatures throughout
the year. You can also cut stems and
soak them in water to make a hi hl
nu ou to water
onto your plants.
Lia Leendertz writes
about gardens, food and
the British year and is the
author of The Almanac:
A Seasonal Guide to 2019
(Mitchell Beazley).
Both crops are best picked
young and tender: before
flowering, in nettle’s case,
and no more than a hand
high for wild garlic