The much maligned dandelion

Dandelions are viewed by most gardeners as a nuisance, destroying lawns and something that needs to be eradicated by careful extraction or systemic weedkillers.These much maligned flowers are a reletive of the sunflower and with control can be a welcome edition to your garden.To control the spread, once established, remove of the flowers once faded (dead head), this will prevent the production of seed and promote the production of more blooms.As any viewer of the Chelsea flower show coverage would have seen both dandelion and nettles were introduced onto gold medal winner Jekka McVicars herb display.Nettles support around 40 insect varieties as well as their cullinary uses whereas dandelions support no less than 93 different insect varieties including bees as they produce an abundance of nectar.Its not only the insects that can benefit from this plant as we to can eat the fresh young leaves in salads and use the root in such drinks as dandelion and burdock. Not only this but their medicinal qualitys are invaluable for use as a diuretic. The root can be gently boiled and the liquid left can be used as a liver cleanser and antibiotic to help with urinary tract infections. Please make sure you know what your picking before using any wild flowers or herbs I know this sounds silly but humans can be very silly.So why not give them a place in your border or veg bed, I am as this will be one of the more unusual plants in my Show garden for Sandringham this year.
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Comments

  • I am so glad you have written this and would like to add that they are also one of the early food sources for bees and butterflies, both of which as you probably know are on the decline. I am at present trying to create a mini wildflower meadow in my garden to support wildlife along with growing fruits and vegetables to support me! :) I am also encouraging more acceptance of wildflowers with my customers. Thank you again.
  • PRO
    Hi Shadow

    Have you aver seen the Dandelion explosion in France during late April/early May? All of the plum orchards and the meadows are a real picture and because the grass has not been treated for ages, every year seems to get more colourful.

    Even the buttercups are such a fantastic sight.
  • PRO


  • Cat and I were happily wandering through the plant centre at Harlow Carr a couple of months ago. We came home with three 'Itailian Herb' dandelion pots (that special irony was reserved just for me...). Now growing them happily in a Yorkshire flowerpot (also bought at Harlow Carr) next to the Mizuna and Rocket. Although I must admit that I volunteered to split them myself - what was I thinkig? I'm waiting for Cat to get sick of the leaves in salads, but I think I've got a way to go yet, as she feeds the extra leaves to our three house-rabbits as treats. I'm never going to win against that sort of genius am I...?
  • Gorgeous pictures Phil, here's some more from wikipedia (trust the speedwell doesn't upset the lawnsters)

    by Wadester16.

    by Wonglijie.

    by ArtMechanic.

    Magnificent aren't they.
  • These are beautiful pictures phil and pete and they highlight my point perfectly. Thank you glynis your garden sounds lovely.
    Shadow
  • Andrew
    Rabbits and giunea pigs, I can say from experience, are particularly fond of these so you may be stuck growing these for some time.
    Shadow
  • the dandelion has made many visits to chelsea. we had it in a garden in 1996 and again in 2004,5,6,7,8,9. Dandelion Taraxacum agg. consists of at least 229 microspecies in GB alone. All are apomictic and at least 40 are endemic. With a bit of effort it is possible to key them out into 9 sections. though the main flush of flowers is in the spring, some will flower at later times. and the habitat they grow in can help identify the particular group.
    We first included stinging nettles into a garden at chelsea in 2000. They have an even more interesting biology, being a hybrid which has followed civilisation into the world. They cerainly show that renowned "hybrid vigour"!
This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Neil Ruddick replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"According to AI, certain groups (eg., those unable to use digital tools due to age, disability, or location) may apply for exemption from MTD.  It gives GOV.UK as the source of that information.
It certainly suits me to stick to paper.  I am…"
17 hours ago
Peel Projects updated their profile
yesterday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Aimee Davey joins ICL at a key point as the business moves into a busy period of campaign and product activity across its Turf and Landscape portfolio, taking on the role of Marketing Communications Manager for the UK and Ireland.Aimee brings strong…
yesterday
Ian Harvey replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
""I like Nigel he's lived in the real world."
Yep- private school eduction, then his Dad (a city trader) gets Nigel a city trader job. His only ever job, before becoming an MEP.
Yep- that's the real world isn't it!
I wasn't suggesting that Reform…"
yesterday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"I'm with you on this. Just had a look at the betting odds for the next general election as it's not often the bookies get it wrong from the odds offered they predict a landslide victory for reform😃.
So we will have to be patient and put with what we…"
yesterday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"I'm hopping for asylum in America "
Tuesday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Anyone with half a brain knows that's common knowledge.
'You will own nothing and be happy'
Last general election i red the manifestos of tories, Labour and reform. The only one that was realistic and contained common sense was reforms.
Tories and…"
Tuesday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Labour will do anything to win votes.
Including burning our country to the ground just to prove a point."
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Just setting off in my dinghy from Calais"
Tuesday
Ian Harvey replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"You do realise that it was the Conservative Party who introduced MTD in 2019 and then expanded it in law to include income tax self assessment in 2022. Nothing that Labour could do to stop it, even if they wanted to.
As for Nigel, if you are…"
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Yes, I'm pissed off too, fed up of supporting the druggies, alcos and bone idle who have 6 kids with no intention of supporting themselves,Rachel in accounts has just made that more of a lifestyle choice. Hope Nigel will sort this broken country…"
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Thats ok for you youngsters, who are capable of using this shit. What about the rest of us appriaching 70? When I was at school calculators were a novelty!  There are a lot in this trade who will just pack it in or go off grid, its more interference…"
Tuesday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"It's important as the 48% of working people to provide for the impoverished depending on the welfare state. 
If fat jayden with adhd doesn't get his macdonalds via delivero everyday he gets anxiety attacks.
His parents that have never worked still…"
Tuesday
Ian Harvey replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Most of the business software packages such as QB, Zero etc are fully MTD ready. Some of these, such as Zoho Books, Wave, QuickFile are free for small businesses, and Freeagent is free if you have certain bank accounts.
The MTD idea is to stop small…"
Tuesday
Peter sellers posted a discussion
Thought there might be some unaware of this. So briefly and I am not an accountant . As from 6th April 26 anyone who has income from self employment, rent from property etc or a combination that equates to a turnover of 50k or more (not profit) will…
Tuesday
Neil Darby replied to Neil Darby's discussion Dirty subject.
"it thats what you are happy doing up to you. 8 turds last week & another 3 this. The client is been notified that I quit. .Edit, excuses excuses.please come back."
Monday
More…

Making tax digital

Thought there might be some unaware of this. So briefly and I am not an accountant . As from 6th April 26 anyone who has income from self employment, rent from property etc or a combination that equates to a turnover of 50k or more (not profit) will…

Read more…
12 Replies · Reply by Neil Ruddick 17 hours ago
Views: 225