Wild Leeks are up!!!

[smitty55]

Those are fine looking leeks there bowj. You are definitely ahead of us here. Nice and young still, great for fresh eating while picking. That's a rule for me, I always eat the first one I pick and likely more before my hands get too dirty. I swear it helps with blackflies too.
I also really like to dip them in a good salt, like eating a green onion. I even had them chopped up on pizza last nite. Oh yea. Soooo good. Still a bit crunchy even. Leek butter by the end of the month. Did I mention how good that stuff is? Hehe. Try it as a dip or drizzle for seafood. You'll never find that in any restaurant. For freezing if you chop them in thick chunks on a sheet, and then bag I find that works best.

I'll add one more thing here for now. Leeks, as picked, but minus the greens will easily last until fall in the fridge, and in the same grocery bag that I use when picking. Don't clean them. You would think they were fresh picked almost after trimming the stem. In fact they will eventually sprout roots under the right conditions.

Cheers

[greatwhite]

I just picked some last night. I was wondering what is the best way to store some for a period of time it would be nice to keep some that are not pickled. Will they keep like an onion or regular garlic?

[Fenelon]

http://www.stlawu.edu/sites/default/...nservation.pdf A good read on the stinky buggers. Good that someone mentioned conservation, as they are susceptible to overharvest. Nogies Creek area beside my house has been permanently damaged by idiots digging up entire patches, with all the rhizomes, with shovels. Many of the limestone ridges are now devoid of them. Takes 5 years for a new one to flower. Some plants can be 30-50 years old.
On a side note, the worst stink I've ever experienced in my 51 years on this planet, came from a dude who had eaten pickled leeks. The type of stink that, even if you're not devoutly religious, you ask your god to please just make it stop........NOW. He drilled a couple of farts into the truck bench seat of his truck. We went fishing for about 5 hours. I got into the truck to back it down to the boat launch, and just me putting pressure on the seat brought the cocktail out again. I couldn't believe it. Bad enough to make you gag! He roared so hard he gave himself a dose of bronchitis, and I had to listen to him cough all the way home. Nasty little onion..........!

[greatwhite]

OK so fine to keep some fresh uncleaned in a bag in the fridge? I would like to keep a bunch for camping.

Probably make 3 bottles of pickled as well.

should I also make sure they are dry a bit first, set them in the sun mayve?

Those are fine looking leeks there bowj. You are definitely ahead of us here. Nice and young still, great for fresh eating while picking. That's a rule for me, I always eat the first one I pick and likely more before my hands get too dirty. I swear it helps with blackflies too.
I also really like to dip them in a good salt, like eating a green onion. I even had them chopped up on pizza last nite. Oh yea. Soooo good. Still a bit crunchy even. Leek butter by the end of the month. Did I mention how good that stuff is? Hehe. Try it as a dip or drizzle for seafood. You'll never find that in any restaurant. For freezing if you chop them in thick chunks on a sheet, and then bag I find that works best.

I'll add one more thing here for now. Leeks, as picked, but minus the greens will easily last until fall in the fridge, and in the same grocery bag that I use when picking. Don't clean them. You would think they were fresh picked almost after trimming the stem. In fact they will eventually sprout roots under the right conditions.

Cheers

[TurkeyObsessed]

When would be the latest for these to be picked? I think I have a large patch at the farm I hunt.

[jaycee]

When would be the latest for these to be picked? I think I have a large patch at the farm I hunt.

I have picked them late after the leaves die off , and they are still very good and large, but you don't have any nice greens to add to salads and such , also make sure you mark the area where they grow as they are hard to find without the telltale greens amongst all the other green vegetation that has grown up.

[smitty55]

When would be the latest for these to be picked? I think I have a large patch at the farm I hunt.

For maximum harvest just before the leaves turn yellow is best. I find that after that they seem to get overly strong for fresh eating, but I have picked them with yellow leaves when I'm going to be using them to get some custom sausage made up, which is one of my favorite uses for them. Been doing that since the 80's.

greatwhite if they were soaking wet I might let them dry a bit but generally I just leave them in the bag as picked and tie a knot in the bag. You will have no problem keeping some for camping.

Cheers

[TurkeyObsessed]

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated.

[rippin_355]

Had a feed of them last night. I can attest to the after smell. While sitting for turkeys this morning I let a couple rip. Thanks goodness turkeys cant smell!!

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[smitty55]

What a difference a week and some rain makes. Still lots of small ones yet but picking size is much improved. Much easier to pick. Even saw some for sale at the local farmers market today. $4 a dozen. Boy I sure could make good coin by the hour. Had my first feed of fresh fiddleheads sauteed with leeks today. So good.

Fenelon tks for that link. It made for some good reading.

Cheers