Ramps

[Ripitz]

 

[gorgonzola]

saw a bunch on last week's mtb ride, threw a ziploc baggy in the pack should I get out that way again

 

[Sick Bird Rider]

@Ripitz - you are way ahead of us! Probably won't be picking for at least a week or so.

 

[Ripitz]

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I've never run across ramp flowers, fresh or dried.

 

[Brownski]

Did I share this? I saw it recently. What do you guys think? Is this something you consider when harvesting? Overblown? Only a concern in a park with lots of foot traffic?

 

[Low Angle Life]

From my somewhat limited knowledge of foraging the biggest precaution to take with ramps is not over harvesting the patch you are picking from. Denuding the soil and removing a majority of the bulb and root mass will prevent more ramps from coming up in the future. Some will suggest harvesting no more than 10% of any given patch is sustainable, others stay away from harvesting the bulb altogether, generally avoiding harvesting young ramps is good practice.

What park was this sign in? I am actually surprised foraging is a common enough activity for the state to put up a sign to stop people. Maybe there was a pandemic boom of foraging like so many other outdoor activities? Ramps have a bit of a lower barrier to entry than say mushrooms so I guess it's not completely surprising a sign just pertaining to ramps. Most hardcore foragers have their secret honey holes off the beaten path so I imagine this sign was in a well trafficked area?

 

[Brownski]

It’s in CNY, right next to a heavily used public trail

 

[Sick Bird Rider]

I've never run across ramp flowers, fresh or dried.

I'm pretty sure that the pic above is not of ramp flowers. They are more delicate and white-ish. No berries. I've picked them maybe a a week or two after the leaves wilt, they make a really nice garnish on a salad, delicate ramp flavour.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

others stay away from harvesting the bulb altogether

That's what I've been doing for the past 5+ years. I just pick the leaves and honestly don't notice the difference once they're part of a dish.

It’s in CNY, right next to a heavily used public trail

Wow, I've never run across a sign like that in the U.S. I've seen them in Quebec.