it's that time of year in the northern hemisphere

[squid_ink]

garlic mustard is on the loose!

here's a nice pesto recipe for that nasty invasive :

Comments

[leeneh]

Before they flower? I have done it all "wrong" for years, then - it's the flowers I recognize them by (they've just begun flowering here)! :]

[squid_ink]

the leaves are pretty distinctive... once they flower they're spreading by tiny seeds.

the plant flowers in the second year IIRC, and the leaves taste bitter

[leeneh]

I don't find them bitter at all, but I'll go and look for plants without flowers, now that I'm aware there is a difference, and see if I can taste it! :D

ETA: Oh, and I'm in Italy - they're native here and not at all aggressive! :)

[quarkwiz]

Finally!! That's what that crap is?? It's everywhere around here and the guys at the garden centre just shrugged when I brought in an uprooted plant and asked them what it was. Are you sure it's tasty, though? Really? I definitely have a negative opinion of these things.

[squid_ink]

it's horrible stuff. It flowers in the second year. If you catch it the first year it can really stop the spread.

there's a ton of recipes out on the 'net, I have made pasta with lemon, chickpeas and garlic mustard that was pretty good.

yummy but horrible. Get the first year growth, and get it early, it gets bitter as it gets older

[ladyapple27]

Excellent!