Allium vineale 'Crow Garlic'

[Ex. Alnmouth, England] 

Alliaceae: a bulbous perennial to 60cm, of dry grassland and roadsides verges. The flowers are pink or white [the plants on offer are white], long-stalked, in umbels along with greenish-red bulbils and a papery bract, proportion of flowers to bulbils varies considerably, blooming June-July. The leaves are grey-green, hollow, semi-circular in cross-section. Common only in Southern England. Native to much of Europe, including Britain, to North Africa and Lebanon.

USES:

The leaves are eaten raw or cooked, but are rather stringy, they are used as a garlic substitute. The leaves are available from late autumn until the following summer, when used sparingly they make a nice addition to the salad bowl. The bulb can also be used as a flavouring, they are small, with a very strong flavour and odour. The bulbs are 10 - 20mm in diameter. Bulbils can be eaten raw or cooked, but these are small and fiddly, but they do have a strong garlic-like flavour.

The whole plant has antiasthmatic, blood purifier, carminative, cathartic, diuretic, expectorant, hypotensive, stimulant and vasodilator properties.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Prefers a sunny position in a light well-drained soil. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply. Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. EASY!

HARVESTED: 

 

50+ BULBILS