whats safe to eat ,whats poisonous

[green thing]

I was watching a Youtube videos showing
A head gardener going around sampling
Veg and leaves as he went around his veg plot

He never grown Oca before and started to
Eat the leaves the other gardener said jokingly
That the leaves are poisonous just to wind him up
Then said it ok to eat the leaves.

Its got me thinking whats safe to eat uncooked
And parts of the plant you should not eat.

I was reading last week its ok to eat nettles
For use in nettle soup before they seed but not after

On the radio last week someone said they use to eat
Rhubarb raw with crushed ice?

The father in law said they use to eat potato raw when he was
A child in germany ?

[mrswadders]

We'll I've been eating raw spuds for years whilst preparing them as has my mum and gran. Also used to east raw rhubarb dipped in sugar as a child. Still here 45 years later and mums 74 so I think we've got away with it!

[veggiechicken]

Nettles aren't poisonous after they flower - just tough and fibrous.

I've never tried rhubarb raw but I've heard of plenty of people who do eat it - its the leaves that are poisonous.

Its foolish to assume that everything is edible - or poisonous!! You just need to know whether it is or not, before putting it in your mouth.

[binley100]

Used to love a stick of rhubarb and a cup of sugar to dip it in ....

[Bren In Pots]

My Gran said not to eat raw potatoes because it would give me 'worms' but I think it was because we needed them for dinner.

[veggiechicken]

You needed the worms for dinner, Bren?
I'm sure I remember that you can treat stomach ulcers with raw potato juice................or has my memory gone AWOL again?

[Bren In Pots]

VC I think you can only eat worms in that rhyme :-

Long, thin, slimy ones; Short, fat, juicy ones

[green thing]

I didn't think nettles would cause any problems until
last week but apparently according to this book
they produce a chemical that can cause kidney and urinary tract problems
after its gone to seed (cystoliths) didn't say if cooking removes it

As for the rhubarb and potatoes I can remember always being told when I was a child you must always cook them to remove the poisons
my nan always boiled everything until it went to mush.

According to wikipedia you need to eat 5kg of rhubarb leaves to receive a fatal dose!
And compounds in the leaves and root could be extract and used as a laxative .
Rhubarb leaves were recommended as a food source
During world war 1 which caused poisonings

[Verinda]

I think you are only supposed to eat nettles in the spring and only pick the top four leaves, that's what I read anyway. I make nettle quiche this time of year and it's absolutely yummy!

[green thing]

I think you are only supposed to eat nettles in the spring and only pick the top four leaves, that's what I read anyway. I make nettle quiche this time of year and it's absolutely yummy!

Will be giving that a go

Bought a bottle of juice today from a polish shop
Hawthorn and pear
It had a bit of a kick
Has anyone ever cooked with hawthorn berries made jam or wine?

[veggiechicken]

Here's one that was prepared earlier
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ury_60904.html

[greenishfing]

Will be giving that a go

Bought a bottle of juice today from a polish shop
Hawthorn and pear
It had a bit of a kick
Has anyone ever cooked with hawthorn berries made jam or wine?

I once made a gallon of hawthorn berry wine a good few years ago.

If I remember right it was just about fit to use as drain cleaner. Don't know what I did wrong. I had success with other fruits.

[Alison]

Will be giving that a go

Bought a bottle of juice today from a polish shop
Hawthorn and pear
It had a bit of a kick
Has anyone ever cooked with hawthorn berries made jam or wine?

I've made a spicy ketchup with them (River Cottage handbook recipe) as well as various mixed jellies.


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[Chris172]

Used to love a stick of rhubarb and a cup of sugar to dip it in ....

When we were kids we always nicked the neighbours rhubarb and rushed in doors for a bag of sugar it was great, and as for eating raw tattie that was also on the menu along with sand give which we called the turnip

They were the good old days


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[green thing]

you need to cook them first


Took the kids on to the moors tonight
picking these was going to make a pie
But I didn't get a chance because
They ate almost all of them before
putting them in the bags.

Quite happy sitting in the bushes
eating them.

Someone walking past said you should
Cook them before eating them.?

Would have preferred them in a pie.