Dandelion is more than an annoying weed, because it can also be used in the kitchen. We show how to plant and harvest dandelions successfully.
Who doesn't look forward to the first yellow flowers appearing in the fields in spring and opening up a wonderful picture. We will show you what you can do with this herb and everything else you should know about the meadow dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).
The dandelion plant genus (Taraxacum) is distributed all over the world and there are countless types of dandelion, which can be recognized by their daisy flowers in various shades of yellow. In addition to the meadow dandelion, there are, for example, the horned dandelion (Taraxacum ceratophorum), the Tyrolean dandelion (Taraxacum tirolense ), the loess dandelion (Taraxacum serotinum) and many other species. In our latitudes, the dandelion is often also called the dandelion and has even become a popular tattoo and decorative motif.
Dandelions: origin and characteristics
For the following remarks we refer to the species group of meadow dandelion or common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and its characteristics. This dandelion also has the nickname "ginseng of the west" - other names for the dandelion are milk flower, cow flower or dog flower. The herb has been known for its effects since the 16th century. At that time it was called "Blessed Medicine".
The dandelion belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae) and is distributed all over the world. It is found on all continents that are in the temperate zone. Typical of the dandelion are its yellow flowers and the strongly toothed leaves, which are arranged in a rosette. The dandelion has a strong underground taproot, the stalk is hollow and contains a lot of milky sap, which can leave unsightly stains. A dandelion can grow 5 to 30 centimeters high and a plant can produce up to 3000 seeds per yearspread.
The dandelion is also very popular with insects such as bees (Apiformes). In order to produce one kilogram of honey, the bees have to visit around 125,000 dandelion flowers and collect the nectar there - a top performance of the bees that we should not forget when enjoying our next honey bread. The herb is very nitrogen-loving and therefore spreads widely on meadows that are fertilized with manure and liquid manure. The dandelion flowers from April to July and you can also use it as a medicinal herb and as a spice in the kitchen.
As a medicinal herb, dandelion can be used to treat the following ailments:
- Loss of appetite
- Blowing
- Inflammation
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Fatigue
In addition, the bitter substances it contains stimulate the bile and liver, which is why dandelion can be used for detoxification. Quite a few do spring cures for detoxification and revitalization with dandelion. Digestion is also stimulated and thus the absorption of certain nutrients such as iron or vitamin B12 is stimulated and promoted.
Buy dandelion
Tea, spice mixes and other products containing dandelion are available in pharmacies and drugstores. Seeds for the garden can already be found in some nurseries and specialist shops, which makes it much easier for us to grow dandelions ourselves.
Planting dandelions
As dandelions are becoming more and more common on the menu, many gardeners are deliberately growing dandelions in their gardens. Cultivation, after all, is very simple - you just need to pay attention to a few things. This includes the fact that the dandelion prefers nutrient-rich and well-ventilated locations. The place should be sunny so that the plant grows optimally, but the dandelion also feels at home in partially shaded areas of your garden. It is sown from March to May, but you can also sow it in autumn from September to October. Since the dandelion needs light to germinate, you should not sow the seeds too deeply - a depth of one centimeter is quite sufficient. It is best to use high-quality seed soil, such as Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil. This ensures the optimal starting conditions for your dandelion.
Propagating dandelions
Almost every child knows how the dandelion reproduces and spreads itself, because the dandelions can ideally spread themselves - on top of thatthey just need some wind. The seeds are carried by the wind and the pointed shape of the seeds means they burrow perfectly into the ground when they hit it.
You can easily remove the seeds from the seed head yourself before the dandelion sows itself with the wind, and use it for targeted cultivation. Store the seeds in a dry and dark place or sow the dandelion immediately in your garden at the desired spot. You can grow the dandelion in spring, but in principle the dandelion is ideally suited for direct sowing into the ground. It is important to keep the seeds moist after sowing and not to sow them too deep. The germination temperature is 15 to 20 °C and germination takes two to four weeks.
Caring for Dandelions
The dandelion does not require any special care. Since it's just a weed to some gardeners, it's safe to assume that it doesn't need much attention to thrive. Although the dandelion prefers nitrogen-rich locations, no additional fertilization is otherwise necessary. However, you can use the dandelion itself as a fertilizer by preparing a plant manure from the dandelion plants. Below you will find a recipe for the correct preparation of such a dandelion manure.
Harvest dandelion
Whether you want to use wild or homegrown dandelions, here are some things to keep in mind when harvesting dandelions. You can use and collect the flowers, leaves and roots of the dandelion. The leaves of the dandelion should be harvested before flowering, when they are still very young - this is the case in April and May. Once the dandelions are in flower, the leaves take on a bitter taste and are no longer palatable in salads. However, the roots can also be harvested and pricked in autumn.
If you don't grow the dandelions, but simply collect them in meadows, you should pay attention to the following points:
- Do not collect on freshly fertilized meadows, as there are still residues of manure or manure on the dandelion
- Do not collect next to busy roads, as these dandelion are often polluted by exhaust fumes
Tip: When harvesting, you should wear old clothes that can get dirty, because the milky sap of the dandelion can cause ugly brown or yellow spotsleave behind that you can't get rid of - such discolouration can also appear on the fingers.
Dandelion: Ingredients and Use
The bitter-tasting dandelion contains numerous effective substances. In the following we only present a small excerpt of its active ingredients:
- Bitter substances
- Flavonoids
- Carotenoids
- Vitamins
- Minerals (up to 5% Potassium)
- Inulin
These ingredients are responsible for the different effects of dandelion, because dandelion is said to have a metabolism-enhancing and diuretic effect. Dandelion is used for loss of appetite, bile flow disorders, indigestion, flatulence, feeling of fullness, rheumatism, skin disorders, kidney gravel, anemia and for flushing the urinary tract.
Because dandelion has a diuretic effect, you should not take tea or other foods containing dandelion in the evening, otherwise you will not have a peaceful night. You should consume a maximum of 10 to 15 grams of rooted leaves per day, which is about three cups of tea.
Recipes for using dandelion:
- Dandelion tea: Boil 1 to 2 teaspoons (1.5 - 3 g) of dandelion leaves and roots in a cup of water and strain the tea after 10 minutes. This tea has diuretic and digestive properties and should be drunk before meals.
- Dandelion syrup: Boil two to three handfuls of dandelion flowers in 0.5 liters of water and simmer over low heat. After 15 minutes, strain the mixture and add 400 g of sugar. Boil the mixture again and add a teaspoon of citric acid. The syrup can then be bottled and has a blood purifying effect.
- Dandelion tincture: You will need 3 to 4 dandelion roots, which you should brush and wash thoroughly and then cut into small pieces. Put the dandelion root pieces in a wide glass vessel and pour 0.5 liters of alcohol over them - 40% corn alcohol, for example, is suitable for this. Seal the jar, put in a sunny spot and wait 3 weeks. After that, strain the tincture. You can drink this tincture after meals to aid digestion.
- Dandelion wine: Dandelion tea can be drunk to stimulate the appetite and regulate digestion. For this you need a handful of dandelion blossoms and pour 0.5 liters of white wine over them. Give this mixture for a daycool place, and then strain the wine.
You can see that the dandelion can not only be used in a salad, which is also often called "Röhrlsalat", but you can also get many stimulating and beneficial remedies from the dandelion. But we can not only eat the dandelion, we can also use it to make plant strengthening and plant care products.
Instructions for plant manure made from dandelion:
- Dandelion manure : You need 1.5 to 2 kg of dandelion plants, which are placed in 10 liters of water and fermented for 2 weeks. This liquid manure can be used undiluted or diluted 1:5. The dandelion manure can be used as a fertilizer for tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) or head cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata) can be used. In addition, dandelion manure can support composting and also improve the quality of fruit and regulate growth in fruit trees and berry bushes.
- Dandelion tea: For the dandelion tea you need 15 to 20 g of dried dandelion herb, which is scalded with 1 liter of boiling water. Steep the tea and use it undiluted. Dandelion tea is used like dandelion manure, especially for improving the fruit of berries, fruit vegetables and fruit.
Remove dandelion
If you have nevertheless decided to declare war on the dandelions in your garden, we would like to introduce you to various methods for removing dandelions. In our special article we have compiled the best methods for removing dandelions and reveal the most effective tips and tricks. This includes methods for removing dandelions as well as preventive measures so that they do not become more common in the first place.