Dahlias - did you know you can eat them?
I started growing dahlias this year to eat.
Previously I had always been just a fruit and vegetable gardener.
But others in the family wanted flowers.
Early this year I found a middle way - to grow flowers that could be eaten.
Armed with James Wong's book 'Homegrown Revolution' I began to explore.
Fuchsias were my first stop on the edible flowers journey. They have grown profusely. Their berries are delicious.
Forget-me-nots, nasturtium and pansies followed.
Then late in the season came dahlias.
I remember my mum loved dahlias - but she never told me you could eat them.
James Wong did.
In fact Thompson & Morgan say of the dahlia :
All dahlia flowers and tubers are edible. The flavours and textures can vary greatly depending on the soil and conditions in which they were grown. Flavours range from water chestnut through to a spicy apple or even carrot.
Dahlias originated in Central America. 16th century Spanish explorers discovered them on the hillsides of Mexico.
Abbe Cavanilles (director of Real Madrid Botanical Garden) named the Dahlia after Anders Dahl, the Swedish botanist.
Dahlias were originally grown as a food crop for their edible tubers.
I haven't tried eating them yet - that is for another day.
According to the US food suppliers Speciality Produce
Dahlias are most commonly used for decorative purposes on cakes, tarts and pastries. Serve alongside cheese or desserts as a garnish. Remove the petals of the Dahlia and add them to grain or green salads to add a pop of color.
Their website lists seven restaurants across California who they supply with dahlias where you can try them including the Flying Pig Pub in Vista and Shakespeare's Corner Shoppe in San Diego.
Dahlias can also be used for dyeing.
In the mid 19th century a London newspaper offered £1 to the first breeder to produce a blue dahlia. So far that has never been achieved.
This is a freeform post. It is not the post I intended to write when I started to type this evening. But when I found these quite striking photos on my camera of the dahlias I was inspired to learn more about them and just started writing.
The photos were taken on Sunday evening. The setting sun was bright and low. The dark clouds behind were threatening rain. The sun went to sleep. The rain won the day.
If you found this post useful or interesting please do upvote, resteem and follow. Thank you.
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[images by @pennsif]
oh, I need to taste one now! Great photo!
What a sinesthetic trip!
Beautiful Dahlias. Mom never said anything to me either.
=)
I bet they're good for you. Super food. @ironshield
A guy who sells cakes and pastry at our market regularly decorated them with flowers, including dahlias. But I never knew you could eat the tubers! How wonderful. I love trying new types of tubers, there are so many of them. One of my favorites was the so called Yuca in Nicaragua. Far from the palm tree that goes by same name, it is a nice long root, tasting like a potato with saffron. No potato ever tasted the same afterwards.
lovely post ...i adore edibles ..have done much research on edible flowers, nasturtiums and roses are among my favorites. Our flower season is now starting due to our intense summer heat. You reminded me to plant some!
Happy Eve!
Melissa
I never knew dahlias were edible! I don’t think it’s common knowledge. All parts of sunflower are edible too. The pedals have a nutty flavor that I enjoy in salads. :) I don’t think the leaves would taste very good but I am imposing their looks and touch into that ideal. But livestock can eat the leaves! Haha
As for the root tubers, do you think they grow more tubers as the season goes on or they just have the one? Dahlias aren’t perennials here in my area, one had to dig up the tubers to winter them over in a warmer spot.
Neither did I... I am definitely checking out the book recommendation too!
thank you @pennsif
Interesting. I never think to eat flowers. I look forward to hearing how the tubers taste.
I did write a article for our local newspaper on eating dandelions a few months back. I ate a few. They have a lot of uses. That's the only flower I've ever tried though.
Really interesting. Please make an update post when you harvest.
Oh excellent! I read a similar article a few years back and I totally forgot my plans to start some edible flowers. Thanks so much for the reminder! Looks yummy. Once again I'm totally stoked on this plan. Gonna stick it in my calendar so I don't forget next year!
I also love chive flowers in a salad instead of sliced onions.
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I'm also just starting into the edible flower side of things. I've been surprised at how many are edible. I guess I can add dahlias to the list as well now!
I've found having them among the veggies helps them grow and confuses some of the pests too!
Had no idea the dahlia is edible. I have tried other flowers and some are delicious . New one to put on my list. Have a good night. 🐓🐓