It won’t be long before my daughter’s favorite spring flower starts cropping up just about everywhere. I have to admit after months of mostly brown the sight of bright yellow flowers against green leaves is a pleasant sight. And I don’t think I will ever love a bouquet of flowers as much as a hand-picked fistful of dandelions from Vayda. Oddly, it’s one of those random markers of where exactly she is at in childhood. When she is too old to pick dandelions and bring them in to put them into water or even worse, call them weeds, my heart might just break.
Not everyone shares the same fondness for dandelions as Vayda and I. In fact, my father weed-treats his yard annually to keep his grass looking as close to golf-course quality as possible when you live in the middle of the woods. However, dandelions have a lot of medicinal uses and nutritional value and shouldn’t be overlooked by spring foragers.
Harvesting dandelions
You can harvest and use every part of a dandelion plant — leaves, flowers and roots. But as always when foraging, use caution when harvesting to ensure you’re taking plants from an area free of herbicide use.
Leaves. The best time to harvest dandelion leaves is during early spring when the rapidly growing leaves are most tender. You can harvest leaves with garden shears or by picking them by hand. Early morning is the best time to harvest. Dandelions growing in the shade will have more tender leaves than those growing in the sun and they will bloom later. Leaves become bitter, dry and rough after dandelions go to flower and the weather becomes warmer in the summer. The next time the leaves will be tender again is during fall when the weather is cool and moist.
Flowers. After dandelion plants have bloomed flower heads can be plucked by hand. This period stretches from mid-spring to summer. Although flower heads can be easily plucked, they do not wash well. Try to choose flowers free of dust and debris.
Roots. Dandelion roots can be dug during any season. Ease of removal is dependent on the soil conditions where the plant is rooted. The root’s size and girth are also dependent on the soil quality and moisture. Roots are larger and easier to remove in well-drained composted soils. Roots are smaller and more difficult to remove in dry, rocky, nutrient-deficient soils. A hand digging tool may be necessary to prevent breaking the taproot during removal. Roots will need to be scrubbed in the kitchen before preparing for use.
Using dandelions in food and medicine
Dandelion flowers, leaves and roots are nutritionally valuable, support digestion and absorption of minerals and help the lymphatic system and urinary tract function.
Leaves. Dandelion leaves should be included in spring salads. The consumption of dandelion leaves improves digestion by increasing bile production. You can add dandelion leaves to meals a few times a day throughout the spring.
Roots. Dandelion root can be roasted and prepared in a tea or tincture to aid the digestive system in digestion and absorption of minerals. Dandelion root tea has also been used to support healthy urinary tract function when mixed with cranberry and echinacea.
Flowers. Dandelion flowers are considered a lymphatic herb and can be used to make a topical oil to massage over the cystic and fibrous tissues of the lymphatic system. Oil made from dandelion flowers works well with infused oils of calendula, plantain and violet flowers and leaves. In addition to being used as a massage oil for the lymphatic system, it can be used for Maya abdominal massage and used as a massage oil for postpartum mothers.
Sara, First off I was born and raised in Ravenna. You may even know my family as my sister is an organic farmer and owns https://suzelisholistic.com/ in Newton Falls. I always get excited when I stumble across someone from home online.
I spotted your post on repelling snakes in the yard or garden. I am now in TX and we have 5 of the most venomous snakes in the country right here. I am always on the lookout to keep copperheads, timber rattlesnakes (and diamond backs), cottonmouth (aka water moccasin), and coral snakes out of my yard and especially my garden.
I love your idea about the hardware cloth. This is my first garden and that seems to be one of the least costly solutions, along with some of the organic homemade sprays. It was actually one of the most sensible solutions I’ve read about.
I love dandelion Jelly. I’m in Texas and our dandelions are actually more in the sunflower family. They also have very little nutritional value. I’ve ordered and planted “real” dandelion seeds. I am anxious to make a wilted dandelion green salad. My fave, though is jalapeno dandelion jelly. It’s amazing over a block of cream cheese, served up with crackers.
I have often wondered who in the world came up with the idea that boiling weeds in water might be delicious when sugar and vanilla are added. I tasted that liquid and it was not only disgusting but I was really afraid to waste all that sugar and vanilla. Whoever thought this up was a genius, though. The jelly was awsome!
Sara!! I am also in your backyard so to speak in huntsburg. I have 4 grape vines bought at Gale’s end of summer sale. They have quite a few buds. Last year was the 1st year and all we did was get them in the ground. The dogs picked off the few grapes. They are quite the omnivores. Anyway. Wondering what the best fertilizer is? I feel like there is not much pruning.
Tina,
It really depends on what kind of grapes you are growing, but a nitrogen-rich fertilizer is best. However, you should wait to apply it until after the vines have blossoms and there are tiny grapes on them. Check out my how to on backyard grapes for beginner’s for more tips — https://www.farmanddairy.com/top-stories/a-beginners-guide-to-growing-backyard-grapes/490110.html
Grapes are poisonous to dogs.
Hi, Just recently read your article. It is end of spring and early summer here. Is it still okay to harvest the leaves for tea? Our weather is warm and we have dandelions about 5-6 months of the year. Thanks.
You can still harvest the leaves to use for tea. It’s just easier to find more tender leaves in early spring. As leaves mature they become dry and bitter. If you stick to shaded areas you may be able to find tender leaves good for tea. Avoid picking leaves from dandelions that have already gone to flower.
I understand that dandelion help with digestion and postpartum mothers but would it help with ovarian cysts or even endomitosis?
A quick Google search provided some anecdotal evidence that dandelion can be helpful in flushing out excess hormones linked to causing ovarian cysts and endometriosis. But I am not a doctor and did not find any medical studies that backed these findings.
I am from Kashmir, dandelion leaves are one of the most essential post patrum food in our culture. Not just expectant and new mothers, even the rest of the family enjoys the curries made from dandelion greens togther with mutton or chicken. It’s one delicious recipe enjoyed particularly during winter months. The greens are picked in early spring and washed and sun dried, then cooked during winter/autumn. The freshly picked greens are cooked during spring/summer.
Full of calcium, they’re a great help during lactation and support back muscles as well. We cherish n nourish our dandelion greens well, and the garden with dandelions is considered a fertile one, in our culture. The flowers make excellent honey and roots are eaten as fritters, as well as dandelion root tea.