Potato tops and gourmet salad ideas?

[Diva1983]

Hi folks,

two questions really which I am hoping someone can help me with.

Firstly, I've just found out a friend cooks potato tops (I mean the foliage) with garlic as say you may cook cabbage. Now, I'm not sure if this is erm safe as my friend also told me she suffered from an upset stomach afterwards and it happens everytime she cooks them. Can anyone assist me in my mission to find out if you can indeed eat them with no health issues?

Secondly, I love rocket and the 'posh' salads you often get in restaurants and would like to grow my own (I grew rocket last year). Does anyone have any suggestions on which combinations would go great together? I have a thing about 'gourmet' things that look pleasing to the eye. Is there any salad leaves I may wish to avoid?

Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks folks,

Diva

[sallym]

Diva, I'm sure that every part of the potato except the tubers is poisonous. Tell your friend not to eat any more.

[FionaH]

Yep pretty sure they are poisonous!!!

[zazen999]

Can you let her know that potatoes and tomatoes are related to Deadly Nightshade - it's called that for a reason!

Only the tubers of potatoes and the fruit of tomatoes are edible.

I can't say about the salad leaves, i grow a large range and they all look good to me.

[Diva1983]

I've passed the message on-thanks guys!

[Snadger]

She must have a death wish!

Or is it like those crazy Japanese sushi eaters dicing with death with a puffer fish?

[zazen999]

Diva...

Please tell me she listened to you?

[lynda66]

oh and the little fruits you get on tomato foliage that look like tomatoes ...... aren't tomatoes, and they are very poisonous too

[Diva1983]

Yes, she has. I don't think she would have told me if it wasn't for the fact I told her I was ordering loads of spud seeds this year.

Thank you for the quick responses everyone.

Although I do have a thing for sushi I won't be trying puffer fish.

[Growem]

Hi Diva, I have an idea for your gourmet salads. Head to the supermarkets and see what they put into their ready-to-eat salad mixes. Some of those mixes are pretty posh. I know I've seen rocket with watercress and I personally think that if you have a bit of red in it, whether a lettuce or endive, that makes it look posher.

And ask very carefully what is in the food the next time you are invited to your friend's place for dinner!

[GreenPete]

Give sorrel a try, it's hardy, it's perennial, leaves grow all year round and has a lovely lemon like flavour to it. Fantastic to include in a side salad with fish dishes. Also it won't go limp in a sandwich like lettuce.

[Eyren]

Baby beetroot leaves look pretty in gourmet salads, and give a nice earthy flavour that contrasts with other ingredients

[di]

oh and the little fruits you get on tomato foliage that look like tomatoes ...... aren't tomatoes, and they are very poisonous too

Sorry Lynda,but

[zazen999]

Lol

Sorry, that's so funny - why can't we have the ROFL smilie?

for H&S reasons, she means potatoes.