Guide to edible weeds in gardens
chickweed – våtarv – (Stellaria media)
?Chickweed feels at home in rich soil with plenty of moisture. In favorable conditions, it will grow lushly and blanket the whole ground with a carpet of small leaves and tiny white flowers.
?It is my go-to wild green for making salads. It has a fresh and delicate taste and pleasant texture. Flavour resembles pea shoots. I mostly use it raw in salads, on top of sandwiches or as a green garnish, but it also works great in green smoothies, wild tabbouleh, or as pot green.
?For getting finest salad greens, look for stems that have big and lush leaves and take just the top 5-8 cm of each stem. You can also gather the longer pieces of stems and flowering stems with smaller leaves, but their flavor and texture will be worse.
?Now during the summer, it is best to look for plants that grow in more shady and moisture places, for example under shade of big cabbage plant
?Chickweed is rich in iron, zinc, and potassium, richer than any of the domesticate greens.