Feeding and Nutrition :: Growing Own Dandelion?

[Caphits]

Does anyone here have any experience growing dandelion, for their greens? Any tips would be appreciated!

[elwray]

Growing dandelions? I spend every spring KILLING them in my yard!

I believe they should be planted a few weeks before the last frost, so you should still have some time where you are. They grow wild all over my area; we have a slightly acidic loamy soil. But I believe they can thrive in many different soil varieties as long as it's well drained.

Try searching the web for tips; there are actually a good handful of people out there that grow these for personal consumption (salads, wine, etc). I've never personally tried them, nor do I expect I will be this season

Good luck, I expect to see some popping up here within the coming months - the turtles have never gotten any of that yet but they will this season!

[megcornell]

I'm actually trying to find dandelion seeds too- apparently dandelions are a favorite of tortoises, and I know my RES love them, but shockingly no one sells them .

I understand they're not very hard to grow so long as you leave ample space for their long tap roots.

[Caphits]

I just went out and picked some seeds. I think I might have overplanted them though. They also grow like crazy in my area. I just wanted to make sure they dont have a bunch of chemicals used to try to kill them all over the leaves. I can only imagine growing a whole garden of dandelions. Think of what the neighbors would say.

Also, the best way Ive heard of controlling dandelions, is having a healthy lawn. The grass will out compete the weeds.

[imderanged]

We have dandelions growing wild here too, and we have very sandy soil. I don't think they are very demanding.

I was wondering though whether the dandelions in the supermarket are a different variety then the wild ones. They are MUCH bigger then the ones that grow in the yard, and my turtle shows a distinct preference for the big store bought leaves vs. the free ones in the yard. (of course)

[Caphits]

Well...I have been reading about them, and the longer they are alive, the more bitter they become. Storebought ones are probably alot less bitter.

[marisa]

In the summer months, the dandelions sold in the stores are grown locally, and are smaller and fairly tender, with the organic ones being the most tender (and expensive) of all. In the late fall and winter, though, they come from Texas and are quite large, which I find irritating, since most of what I wind up buying is stalks, with relatively little "leaf" to them. In spite of their size, though, they're really not that bitter.

The ones that can be used from pesticide-free lawns, become really bitter once they flower, even if they don't grow that big. You probably could collect some of the flowers that have gone to seed and try to grow new plants from them.

[imderanged]

Ohh maybe that's the problem, i picked them after they flowered. I'll try and get to them before they flower this year.