If anyone is interested in having any of this, I can bring some to the swap. I got loads self seeded all over the place.

What does it taste like? Do you eat it raw or cooked or both? I never heard of it before until just recently here on RMG. I wouldn't mind trying one, cnetter!

Skybird

far out! spring is finally here when we can start munching. i notice in your close up off to the right you have, it looks like to me, some wild lettuce. looks like dandelion but greener. cooks up real good as well. i love the purple color of orach. enjoy.

A friend in the mountains had me try a "weed" last year. Your going to want the name and I can't even remember it right now. But it grows all over. We cooked it like spinach and was wonderful. Please bring some seeds to the swap, I'd like to attempt a patch.

I don't quite tolerate weeds in my garden - but that doesn't mean they don't show up. Lambs quarters may have been your friend's weed, Emagineer, if you are reminded of it by looking at the orach. They are closely related and fairly similar  flavor-wise. I have eaten lambs quarters for years and years but was very pleased that orach is far more tender. Both are related to spinach and that's why orach is sometimes called mountain spinach.

If you don't want orach everywhere - don't let it bloom and go to seed. However, it is neither a perennial nor a tough weed - just opportunistic. The seedlings may even show up in the lawn  however, they arenÂt too happy to be moved.

Fragran, that may be prickly lettuce to the right of the orach. It's growing beside the stepping stone in front of the neighbor's backyard gate (can I blame it on him? ;o). This was one the hens preferred over regular lettuce back when I had hens. (IÂve only tasted a leaf or 2 over the years.) Usually we find one good stand of pigweed which we harvest for a "mess" of greens at home. (Of course, this is growing in the neighbor's yard, as well. :o) And, purslane goes straight in my mouth if I'm tempted too long by 'em and they're where they've stayed out of the mud.

DigitS'

Oh, and this is a very respectable SALAD vegetable despite me referring to it as a "potherb." It is just very tender and, of course, colorful and soooo early.

While it is still at the rosette stage - I prefer it to spinach.

D'S'