Many weeds are edible Positively identify spray-free plants before picking for consumption

Q: A fellow gardener told me that redroot pigweed, the most prolific weed in my garden, is edible! Is this true? – A.W., Holden

A: Indeed, it is. Many people use pigweed as a pot herb, while others saut? the greenery. Many other weeds we continually battle are edible, as well. The weed most commonly eaten is the dandelion, but purslane, lambsquarters, wild onion and wild garlic are also edible. The roots and leaves of chicory and the roots of Jerusalem artichoke (used as a potato substitute) are tasty, too! Surprisingly, the young shoots of milkweed and cattails are edible.

Never eat wild plants or weeds from the garden or landscape without being certain of their nontoxic nature. Do not eat plants that may have been sprayed with pesticides or roadside sprays. Positively identify each specimen you collect. To help identify weeds, consult an identification key or manual. One lengthy manual, “Weed identification and Control” by D. Isely, provides a key to common weeds of the United States.

Q: We have placed bird feeders and nesting boxes throughout our yard and have enjoyed immensely the beauty and song of the birds all summer. Our cats pose a persistent problem, however, as it is a rare day that they do not kill a bird. We’re wondering if there is anything we can do to make it more difficult for them to make a catch. – D.& F.D., Skowhegan

A: Certainly, there is. First, create free-standing bird feeders, by driving a one-inch galvanized pipe into the ground. Mount the feeder to the pipe. Where wooden posts are easy for the cats to climb, the pipe is impossible.

Keep the grass trimmed in a 10-foot circle around free-standing feeders and nesting boxes. Cats benefit from tall grass – it provides cover as they sneak up on their prey. Keeping the grass cut short gives the birds an edge – they can clearly see cats as they approach.

Be sure to place feeders and houses that are suspended from a cord in a location where the cats can’t ambush the birds. Place them away from fences, buildings or tree branches from which a cat could launch an attack. Remember that cats can launch an aerial attack from tree branches above a feeder, so use trees for feeders only if a cat cannot reach from above.

Q: I was a little overzealous this year planting my herb garden. As the plants have grown and filled in, I see that I have more herbs than I can possibly use fresh. Aside from drying how can they be saved for use in winter? – J.V., China

A: If hanging herbs to dry presents a special problem for you, try freezing them. After clipping the herbs, rinse them with water and pat them dry with a towel. Spread them in single layers on a cookie sheet and set them in the freezer for a few hours. Once they become stiff you can remove them and pack them together in a plastic freezer bag. By following this simple procedure, you’ll preserve the herbs with more of their fresh flavor than what you obtain when you dry them.

Some gardeners concoct herbal oils and flavored vinegars for cooking and salad dressings. By placing different, complementary herbs in a bottle, covering them with a generous amount of oil and vinegar, and letting them “marry” for a few days or more, you’ll produce a deliciously flavored ingredient for many dishes. For more information on creating these delights, consult “Gifts for Herb Lovers” by Betty Oppenheimer.

Diana George Chapin is the NEWS garden columnist. Send horticulture questions to Gardening Questions, RR1, Box 2120, Montville 04941, or e-mail them to dianagc@ctel.net. Selected questions will be answered in future columns. Include name, address and telephone number.