Forest healer: what is wild garlic and how is it useful?

• What is wild garlic: types of plants with photos and descriptions
• Cultivated varieties of wild garlic in Russia
• Features and morphology of the wild garlic plant
• How to grow wild garlic in open ground
• Planting and caring for wild garlic in open ground
• How to feed wild garlic
• Transplanting wild garlic: technology for preserving bulbs
• Joint plantings: wild garlic companion plants
• Methods for propagating wild garlic
• How to collect and prepare wild garlic seeds for sowing
• Peculiarities of growing wild garlic in the regions
• Diseases and pests of wild garlic
• How to identify wild garlic and its dangerous “doubles”
• Collection of wild garlic leaves
• Useful properties and uses of wild garlic
• Reviews of wild garlic
• Video: how to grow wild garlic in the garden

Ramson is valued primarily for its early spring harvest of aromatic greens, which are not only tasty, but also very healthy due to their high content of vitamins and phytoncides. Another advantage of this wonderful plant is its ability to grow and bloom in heavy shade, under trees with a dense crown, and even along the northern walls of buildings, in conditions unsuitable for other plants. Traditionally, wild garlic was collected from forests, but it is easy to grow in a garden plot in almost any region.

Ramson, or Bear's Onion, or Wild Garlic, or Flask, Chanzeli, Levurda, (Allium ursinum).

How much do we know about wild garlic? Its gorgeous leaves, fragrant greenery, unpretentiousness and subtle beauty, as well as how, having “broken” to freedom, it can turn from your friend into an enemy, becoming a truly malicious weed! Let's talk more about this culture.

What is wild garlic: types of plants with photos and descriptions

Wild garlic , chanzels , bear's onion , levurda , flask , wild garlic - an inconspicuous perennial herbaceous plant that opens in full beauty in late spring - early summer. Its light green leaves, similar to lily of the valley, are valued for their pleasant garlicky taste and beneficial properties that not only strengthen, but also heal the body.

Bear onion (Allium ursinum) grows throughout Europe and the Caucasus.

You can most often find wild garlic in shady deciduous and deciduous-spruce forests, in ravines, lowlands - where it is quite humid. Its growing area is incredibly wide. Austria, Great Britain, Georgia, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovakia, France... Wherever it grows!

To call everything wild garlic is, to put it mildly, incorrect. It comes in two main types, which differ quite greatly from each other.

1. Allium ursinum – Bear onion (in our country it is found in the Caucasus).
2. Allium victorialis – Victory onion (distributed mainly in the Far East and Siberia).

On a note! In many countries, wild garlic is protected and included in the Red Book; it is for this reason that it is increasingly grown as a cultivated plant.

In stores, “European” bear’s wild garlic, or more simply bear’s onion, is more often found.

The plant has oblong-shaped bulbs about a centimeter long, a triangular tall stem and a pair of leaves that tightly grip the stem at the base. The leaf blade is also unique; it is lanceolate, gradually turning into a petiole. The bear onion forms a hemispherical inflorescence bearing a few snow-white flowers and a fruit - a spherical box containing a handful of black seeds.

The second type is the so-called victorious wild garlic, or victorious onion. This is the kind of plant that can often be found in garden beds in Siberia. It is usually larger than the previous type. It is based on a cylindrical-conical bulb. Often there are two or three of them of small diameter. Each onion is attached separately from its neighbor to a slanting rhizome.

On a note! It is believed that wild garlic originated in Asia. In the wild, the plant is also found in the Far East, Siberia and the Urals. And in Europe, archaeologists found ancient wild garlic seeds during excavations of settlements that existed back in the Stone Age.

The stem of Siberian wild garlic is taller, its average “height” is about a meter. Some specimens may even exceed this level. The stem is not bare, it is covered with leaves almost to the half. The plant bears a spherical, graceful inflorescence with numerous whitish flowers.

Victory onions grow in Europe, the Caucasus and Siberia.

This type of wild garlic is suitable for cultivation both as a vegetable and as an ornamental crop, since it can form a very impressive dense bush. Its spherical inflorescences are formed at a time when other crops, such as onions, are just beginning to develop. Sometimes wild garlic is planted literally along the borders of a garden plot, not far from large trees, a fence or the wall of a residential building. Comparative characteristics of bear onion varieties:

Cultivated zoned varieties have not yet been created for Siberian wild garlic (victory onion). Hobbyist gardeners have success growing plants taken from the wild or purchased from other gardeners. There is still a lot of wild wild garlic in Siberia and the Far East, so you can carefully dig up a few bushes in the forest or collect seeds from wild thickets.

How to use wild garlic for treatment

Medicines

Based on the plant, decoctions and tinctures are prepared, which are taken orally or used externally to treat many diseases.

Decoction - a tablespoon of chopped herbs is placed in a container with 250 ml. boiling water, leave in a thermos for several hours. The strained drink is taken orally for stomach diseases, to normalize digestion, to treat and prevent diabetes and atherosclerosis. Externally used for wiping in the fight against skin ailments - dermatitis, pustules and various rashes.

Tincture – put chopped herbs (1/2 volume) into a container and fill it with alcohol or vodka. Place in a dark place to infuse for two weeks. The infused and strained product is taken 30 drops, diluted with water, three times a day. It has an antimicrobial effect and prevents atherosclerosis. Externally, wild garlic tincture is used in the form of rubs to treat rheumatism, neuralgia, and arthritis.

Ramson for women's health

Ramson has a low calorie content, which allows it to be included in various nutritional systems and diets for weight loss.

The plant has a positive effect on maintaining women's health. Antiseptic properties are used to solve gynecological problems; wild garlic takes good care of the skin - eliminates rashes on the face and has a whitening effect; medicinal masks are prepared on its basis.

During pregnancy and lactation

During pregnancy, the plant has a positive effect for both the woman and the fetus - it replenishes vitamins, minerals and folic acid, which is essential for the normal development of the unborn child.

During lactation, it is better to avoid taking wild garlic - it gives the milk a garlicky smell and a strong taste, which the baby may not like.

For men's health

Wild garlic supports men's health well - it normalizes metabolism, cleanses and strengthens the body, and increases physical and sexual capabilities.

Harm and contraindications of wild garlic

Despite all the beneficial properties of the plant, if the intake standards are not followed, it can cause harm to the body.

Due to the high content of phytoncides, the plant has an irritating effect on the mucous membrane, which is not desirable for people suffering from chronic diseases of the stomach and gall bladder. It is not recommended for hepatitis and cholecystitis, epilepsy and a tendency to allergies. If the plant is abused, side effects may occur in the form of headaches, diarrhea, insomnia, and allergic reactions.

Cultivated varieties of wild garlic in Russia

The introduction of bear onions into culture began not so long ago. In our country, scientists have developed three varieties with very romantic names - Bear Delicacy , Bear Cub , Bear Ear .

Such similar names were obviously chosen for it because in nature the bear likes to eat the plant.

Flowering bear onion.

All three contain large amounts of biologically active substances and can be grown on an industrial scale. Their taste and appearance generally coincide with the description of the natural wild species; there are only minor differences in the size of the leaves and the speed of their regrowth. All varieties are intended for garden plots and personal plots; they can be grown throughout the Russian Federation and in neighboring regions.

In turn, victory onion is widespread in Siberia and the Far East. However, in the center of the country it is almost impossible to find this plant. Due to its complete adaptability to harsh climatic conditions, local residents nicknamed it - Siberian wild garlic.

Growing wild garlic in the garden

Many gardeners, especially in those areas where wild wild garlic does not grow, grow it on their plots. This process does not cause any particular difficulties, but some points should be paid attention to:

• the place for wild garlic should be shady and moist;
• The crop is most often propagated by seeds that have undergone stratification;
• wild garlic is a slow-moving plant, so you need to be prepared that the planted seeds will sprout only next year;
• The plant will become mature in two years, and will bloom, most likely, three years after planting.

In order for the seeds of some crops to germinate, they must undergo stratification - a decrease in temperature for up to 100 days. In nature, this process occurs naturally when seeds that fall in the fall lie under the snow all winter, and in the spring they are pulled into the ground by melt water. A refrigerator is successfully used to stratify garden plants.

Video: sowing wild garlic into a snail after stratification

Ramson is a wonderful gift from nature, allowing people to diversify and enrich their diet. But it is important to understand that this is a slow-growing herb and collecting it on an industrial scale will lead to the complete disappearance of valuable onions. Therefore, the cultivation of wild garlic in household plots can be considered an environmental protection measure.

• Author: Galina Maryutenkova
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Features and morphology of the wild garlic plant

Ramson is an ephemeroid. In other words, it is a perennial, the above-ground part of which develops in the spring and dies by the end of summer. Its tender leaves, which sprouted in March, are the first vitamin-rich greens. But, the older the plant becomes, the coarser its tissues are, so the collection of wild garlic continues only until flowering, which begins in May.

Ramson (bear onion, victory onion, wild garlic, bulb) is a perennial herbaceous plant from the Onion family.

After flowering, the wild garlic drops its seeds. They will germinate only next year. If you save them and sow them in the spring, sprouts will appear only in the next spring season. But wild garlic also reproduces in another way - vegetatively. Well-formed plants form two replacement bulbs, which can be separated and planted in the garden bed.

It is no coincidence that wild garlic is included in the genus Onion, the subfamily Onion, and the Amaryllidaceae family. It really has a small elongated bulb, about 1 cm in diameter. During flowering, an umbrella shoots out an inflorescence on a fairly long, 15 to 50 cm triangular stem. It has linear-lanceolate, white tepals. The fruit forms a capsule with almost round seeds. But wild garlic has only two real leaves. Quite narrow, 3–5 cm wide, sharp, lanceolate, they are somewhat inferior in height to the stem. Their petiole is narrower than the main plate and almost twice as long as it.

What is wild garlic - botanical description

What does wild garlic look like? – the plant belongs to the bulbous family, its basal elongated bulb is up to 2 cm thick. Erect triangular stems emerge from it, growing up to half a meter in height. The leaves of wild garlic are oblong, lanceolate, sharp, up to 5 cm wide, with a garlicky taste similar to lily of the valley. Small white flowers form hemispherical inflorescences. After flowering, a fruit is formed in the form of a capsule with rounded seeds.

The aboveground part of the plant develops in early spring and the first leaves delight and replenish the body with vitamins. Then the leaves become coarser and begin to die by the end of summer. Ramson is the name given to two types of plants – victory onion and wild garlic onion.

Victory onion - photo, the plant can be found on the edges, meadows and forests of the Caucasus

How to grow wild garlic in open ground

The culture is simply ideal for growing both in open ground and in protected ground, and can live on your balcony or loggia.

On a note! When determining a place to plant wild garlic, it is worth remembering that this crop loves fairly fertile soils, shade from direct sunlight and moisture. For this reason, it is better to place it under trees or a fence - where there is no scorching sun, there is no stagnation of water and the soil is not highly acidic.

Wild garlic, or bear onion, or wild garlic.

Use in cooking

Green wild garlic leaves can be used in the kitchen as garlic, onions and leeks in fresh and cooked form for both first courses and second courses. Its flavor is more pungent than garlic, but it loses its heat and flavor when heated, so add this herb towards the end of the cooking process.

Before cooking wild garlic, rinse it thoroughly under running cold water and cut off the roots.

Here's what you can make from wild garlic:

• Fresh, finely chopped leaves are ideal in salads and vinaigrettes.
• Greens crushed together with salt are appetizing together with black bread.
• Very tasty early spring cabbage soup and soups are made from wild garlic.
• It is added to minced meat.
• They make pies with eggs and wild garlic
• Used as a seasoning for meat and fish dishes and as a filling for pies.
• The spiciness of wild garlic works well in a variation of pesto without basil: chop 100g fresh herbs, 100g Parmesan and 60g toasted pine nuts. Mix with 150 ml of olive oil and add a little salt - the pesto is ready. Keeps in the refrigerator for about two weeks! You can make the sauce even more savory by adding hazelnuts to the recipe.

• Wild garlic is suitable as a seasoning for preparing flavored butter, sauces and vegetable dishes.
• Pairs well with fish and poultry dishes.
• Try adding it to scrambled eggs or fried potatoes.

Delicious wild garlic and potato salad - recipe

Ingredients:

• 600 g potatoes (boiled in skins);
• 30 g wild garlic;
• 3 cucumbers;
• 5 tablespoons of sour cream;
• 2 tbsp. mayonnaise;
• ½ tsp. mustard;
• 3 tbsp. l. apple cider vinegar;
• salt
• pepper (freshly ground).

How to cook:

1. Peel the warm potatoes, cut into slices and place in a bowl. Pour in vinegar.
2. Rinse the wild garlic leaves with cold water, shake and chop.
3. Cut the gherkins into thin strips.
4. Mix sour cream, mayonnaise and mustard and season with salt and pepper.
5. Now add the remaining ingredients and mix gently.

Tip: Change up this wild garlic salad recipe by using striped radishes instead of cucumbers.

How to cook pies with wild garlic, green onions and eggs

Wild garlic soup - recipe

You will need:

• 6 pcs. wild garlic;
• 3 large potatoes, diced;
• 1 chopped onion;
• 1 tbsp. l. olive oil;
• 1 tbsp. l. butter;
• 1.5 liters of water or broth;
• black pepper and salt.

Preparation:

1. Separate the wild garlic leaves and set aside. Coarsely chop remaining stems.
2. Cook the onions and potatoes in a frying pan with olive oil and butter for 15 minutes.
3. Place them in a pan of boiling water or broth and add the wild garlic stalks, simmer for 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
4. Chop the wild garlic leaves and add to the soup (leave some greens to garnish the finished dish). Season with salt and pepper. Cook for another 2 minutes, remove from heat and puree in a food processor.
5. Garnish with fresh herbs before serving.

Planting and caring for wild garlic in open ground

For the first two years, the plants are only looked after: watered, loosened, fed (with any complex fertilizer once or twice a season). Since wild garlic bulbs tend to rise from the ground by about 0.5 cm every year, starting from the second year, the bed is mulched with a thin layer of fallen leaves.

Victory onions love sunny areas, which usually goes against the wishes of the average owner of six acres, because, as a rule, they try to place such crops on more shaded lands. However, even in such unfavorable conditions, wild garlic can grow well.

Ramson emerges from the soil very early.

She is picky only regarding soil acidity. In an area that is too acidic, wild garlic will not grow at all. She also loves an abundance of moisture, but not its excess. The main thing is to prevent the soil from drying out; in this case, the leaves can become rough.

After a one-time planting, wild garlic can grow in one place for many years. But for this it requires simple care. It is necessary to fight weeds only at the initial stage, while the plants have not yet gained strength. They will then deal with this threat on their own.

Varieties

For breeding, you should pay attention to such varieties as:

• Bear - the variety is distinguished by early ripening, in appearance it has green leaves with a matte coating. Grows well at low temperatures.
• Bear's ear is an early ripening variety, characterized by good yield, has bright green leaves, and is characterized by a slightly pungent taste.
• Bear delicacy is a productive early variety, distinguished by a large-leaf rosette. Suitable for raw consumption, as well as for pickling and salting.

Pickled plant.

How to feed wild garlic

If the soil is fertile enough, you don’t need to apply fertilizer for the first few years. Over time, the earth will begin to become depleted, and then it will be time for artificial replenishment. You can use nitrogen fertilizers, for example, in the form of ammonium nitrate in a ratio of 20–30 grams per square meter.

On a note! Ramson also loves organic matter added when digging up the soil. The plant will respond to such feeding with active growth and rapid formation of vegetative mass.

Wild garlic (ramson) grows almost everywhere.

The best fertilizer for wild garlic is leaf humus, which is scattered in a thin layer over the surface of the earth with the onset of autumn. In extreme cases, you can replace it with completely decomposed compost.

Industrial Application

The healing properties of wild garlic allow it to be used not only for food, but also in a number of industrial areas.

• In beekeeping, wild garlic is famous for its honey-bearing qualities.
• In pharmaceuticals, wild garlic is used to create medicines based on natural raw materials. Ramson is the basis for ointments that are used in surgery as a wound-healing drug. And also for purulent skin diseases that cannot be cured with antibiotics.
• In some cases, wild garlic is used as an ornamental plant for landscaping the area.
• It is not used as feed, as it can affect the taste of meat and milk. But it does not have a negative impact on the health of the livestock itself.

Transplanting wild garlic: technology for preserving bulbs

Seedlings planted in a garden bed are usually grown for another year. When they are strong enough, they can be transplanted to a permanent location. It is best to do this in the spring, since at this time the soil is very soft. In such conditions, it is easy to dig up the plants without damaging the bulbs.

When planting, they can be buried a little. This technology is often used in summer cottages, where the gardener does not have the opportunity to work every day. Burying allows you to protect the bulbs and plants as a whole from possible short-term drought.

After planting, the wild garlic must be watered with warm water, in which small doses of nitrogen fertilizers can be dissolved. When replanting, you should pay attention to the possible presence of flower stalks on the plants. If they are present, they need to be trimmed. This is done in order to allow the bulbs to take root normally in a new place, saving nutrients.

The most reliable and fastest way to get vitamin-rich greens in your garden bed is to plant bear onion bulbs.

Sometimes wild garlic is replanted not in the spring, but closer to autumn. At this time, the entire above-ground part of the plants dies and the bulbs are in a dormant state. They are planted so that they are buried a couple of centimeters into the soil. Otherwise, the bulbs may not take root.

On a note! If you decide to allocate a large area for wild garlic, then plan the planting in advance. It must be taken into account that there should be no more than 75 bulbs per square meter of land. From them you can collect up to 1.5 kg of fresh herbs. By the way, it is necessary to cut it selectively so that the onions are not too depleted.

How to choose and where to buy wild garlic

This is what garlic grass, bear's onion or wild garlic looks like - photo of the plant

Fresh wild garlic can be purchased at the market or in the grocery store in the vegetable department. You should pay attention to its appearance - the leaves should be intact, green in color and not wilted.

It is better to store it in a bunch in a glass of water or put it in the refrigerator, while wrapping it in a damp cloth and covering it with plastic or cling film. In this form, the product can be kept fresh for up to 7 days.

Joint plantings: wild garlic companion plants

Due to the complete death of leaves in mid-summer, there is always a danger of losing, drying out or accidentally trampling a wild garlic plantation. The easiest way to solve this problem is by planting suitable neighboring plants. Large, slow-growing perennials that thrive in moist shade and retain beautiful foliage until late autumn are suitable for this. For areas with harsh winters, these are primarily local species of large rosette ferns (ostrich fern, shield fern, nomadic fern), volzhanka (aruncus), winter-hardy species and varieties of meadowsweet (meadowsweet). In the middle zone and to the south, Rogersias and large-leaved hosta varieties are added to them.

The benefits of such joint plantings are obvious:

• The site looks decorative throughout the season.
• Ramson will not get lost or trampled; if necessary, it is easy to find and dig up even in a leafless state.
• Watering ornamental perennials provides sufficient moisture for wild garlic.
• Fewer weeds grow in such an area than on bare ground with dormant bulbs.

Companion plants are planted about a meter apart from each other, and clumps of wild garlic are placed between them. This composition can withstand well for 5–7 years without transplanting or dividing.

If there is very little space or there are problems with water for irrigation, you can do without accompanying plants. In this case, the wild garlic bulbs are placed 15–25 centimeters apart. To protect against weeds, you can cover the plantings with black mulching agrofibre in the second half of summer. At the beginning of autumn, this protective covering must be removed.

Health Benefits

Ramson has beneficial properties that are determined by the vitamins, minerals, organic acids, and essential oils it contains:

• Wild garlic contains 200 mcg of vitamin A and 1200 mcg of beta-carotene. They are important for healthy skin and mucous membranes, for good vision.
• It is very rich in vitamin C. 100 grams of wild wild garlic contain a whopping 150 mg of vitamin C. This corresponds to 150 percent of the daily requirement of an adult. To get this amount of vitamin C from oranges, you need to eat two and a half fruits or 300 g. Vitamin C has immunostrengthening, detoxifying, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antitumor and many other properties. It keeps the immune system healthy and thus provides protection against various diseases.
• It contains 2.87 mg of iron, which is 20.5% of the daily value. It is responsible for transporting and storing oxygen. A deficiency of this element causes fatigue, malaise, headaches, hair loss, problems with concentration and leads to anemia.
• The potassium content in wild garlic is 336 mg. It plays an important role in energy metabolism and, together with sodium, is responsible for heart health.
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is important for many body functions. Deficiency can lead to depression, polyneuropathy, blurred vision, headache, fatigue, heart failure, edema, etc. Wild garlic contains 130 mcg of thiamine.
• It also contains 200 mcg of vitamin B6 - pyridoxine (10% daily value). It is necessary for the formation of hemoglobin and for the proper functioning of the nervous and immune systems. In addition, this vitamin is involved in protein metabolism.
• Wild garlic contains 320 micrograms of manganese. It is an important component of various enzymes, endogenous antioxidants and mitochondria (which are the energy centers of the body's cells).
• Magnesium is important for the proper functioning of our muscles. If there is a deficiency, this is fraught with muscle tremors, seizures and heart rhythm disturbances. Magnesium also has anti-inflammatory effects and is essential for numerous body processes.
• Calcium is important for healthy bones and teeth. It strengthens them and prevents fractures. This mineral is also necessary for muscle activity and blood clotting.
• Phosphorus is an important component of DNA and RNA and is needed for cell health and energy metabolism.
• Ramson contains a sulfur-containing substance, allicin, which is formed upon contact with oxygen when the integrity of the plant is disrupted (for example, when slicing). Allicin is considered a natural antibiotic that can kill bacteria and even fungi. In addition, it regulates cholesterol levels and is a proven remedy for atherosclerosis. It is also effective against cancer cells.

When grown at home, wild garlic develops much faster than in nature. Its leaves are wider, shorter and thicker, the green color is more intense. The sugar content increases, but the vitamin C content decreases almost 2 times, but rarely even in garden wild garlic it is below 70 mg.

In folk medicine, wild garlic has long been used to improve appetite, treat scurvy, for fever, as an anthelmintic and externally for rheumatism.

Top 10 medicinal properties of wild garlic

Ramson is a real healthy food, here are some of its beneficial properties:

1. An abundance of several types of antioxidants helps protect your cells from free radical damage.
2. Reduces blood pressure levels, as well as bad cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
3. Used to treat asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.
4. Stimulates the secretion of digestive juice due to the high content of mustard oil.
5. Eliminates diarrhea, colic, dyspepsia and flatulence.
6. Inhibits the development of arteriosclerosis and reduces the risk of heart attack.
7. Able to rid the body of parasites.
8. Wild garlic juice is used in weight loss programs due to its high concentration of vitamin C, which helps burn fat 30% faster than in people with low levels of this substance.
9. Serves as a general household disinfectant.
10. This is a popular spring vitamin that helps strengthen the immune system.

Methods for propagating wild garlic

As for propagation, the best option here is vegetative, with bulbs. To do this, in early spring or on a cloudy summer day, it is necessary to separate part of the bulbs from the clump (always with roots) and plant them in rows at a distance of 20–35 cm from each other with row spacing of 30–45 cm.

However, getting them even in our time is very problematic. Instead, you can master the method of propagation by seeds. If you decide not to purchase them, but to assemble them yourself, then it is worth remembering a number of nuances so that there are no unpleasant surprises in the future.

When transplanting wild garlic, it is important to protect the roots from drying out and mechanical damage.

It should be borne in mind that the seeds ripen quite early, already in mid-summer. You shouldn’t wait for them to fall out of the boxes, because collecting them from the ground will become problematic. In addition, they will take a very long time to germinate. The ideal option is to extract seeds that have not yet formed a hard shell directly from the boxes. Such planting material will germinate much faster, and the germination rate will be significantly higher.

Note! When sowing, the seeds are not buried in the soil, but mulched with a small layer of earth.

Seeds can be sown directly in the summer, when the workload in the garden is not so great. It is better to place them immediately in peat pots, which have now become fashionable. This will completely eliminate the need for a transplant. After some time, the pots can simply be dug into the ground, their shell will dissolve and will also become additional food for plants starting their life.

How to distinguish wild garlic from hellebore

What is a flask plant

Wild garlic looks like another flattering plant - hellebore. Hellebore is a poisonous herb. It contains large quantities of glycoalkaloids. Even a few leaves are enough to cause poisoning. This plant is called false wild garlic. How to distinguish wild garlic from hellebore:

• Firstly, by smell. In the flask it is tart and garlicky. Hellebore does not have a special aroma;
• Secondly, the false wild garlic bush has more powerful and wider leaves;
• Thirdly, the hellebore leaf plate with veins. Due to them, it is quite tough.

Poisonous plant hellebore

Important! The flask is not recommended to be fed to livestock. Garlic taste can spoil meat and milk. They will acquire a specific taste.

How to collect and prepare wild garlic seeds for sowing

After flowering, flower umbels form seed boxes, which must be carefully monitored, because they ripen very unevenly. Once the seeds are ripe, the capsules dry and open so that the seeds can spill out onto the ground. At this moment they must be collected and immediately sown in a permanent place. They are scattered over the surface of a loosened and leveled area, without covering them with soil, and carefully watered. Such sowing with freshly harvested seeds gives good seedlings in the coming spring.

On a note! There is no point in waiting until all the boxes burst. You need to take a bowl and periodically shake into it what is already ripe. Or put paper bags on the inflorescences and wait until the seeds fall into them on their own.

If ripened seeds do not immediately fall into moist soil and remain dry for more than a month, they begin a period of deep dormancy. Such seeds usually germinate after 2 winters. Older seeds completely lose their viability.

The easiest way is to sow the seeds right before winter in a permanent place. But sometimes for some reason this is not possible (for example, if the seeds were purchased late in the fall or at the beginning of winter, when deep snow had already fallen). In this case, the seeds need special preparation - stratification, without which they will never sprout.

At home, it is convenient to stratify seeds in a regular household refrigerator. There are 2 main options:

• wrap the seeds in a damp cloth and wrap in plastic;
• place the seeds in a small container with damp sand.

The option with a napkin is convenient because you can periodically check the condition of the seeds. The package with wet seeds is placed in the refrigerator and kept at near-zero temperatures for at least three months. In spring, stratified seeds are sown in a permanent place. If suddenly the seeds begin to actively germinate right in the refrigerator, and the snow is still far away, you can sow the sprouted seeds in pots or boxes with soil, and then carefully plant them in the garden.

Ramson as a folk remedy

Since ancient times, the flask has been famous for its healing properties. Not only stems and leaves, but also flowers and bulbs were used to treat various diseases.

1. Ramson was used for vitamin deficiency. Just ten grams of this healing herb is enough to add to a vegetable salad.
2. For rheumatism, wild garlic compresses help. The leaves are crushed and mixed with vegetable oil. The product should be wrapped in gauze and applied to the sore spot for an hour and a half. Continue the procedure for two weeks.
3. For colds, wild garlic bulb is used. Grind the onion to a paste-like state, make small tampons, wrap the onion pulp inside and insert into the nasal passages. Keep for no more than ten minutes.
4. An infusion of wild garlic will help with insomnia. The onion and leaves are crushed, filled with vodka and the infusion is placed in a dark place. After two weeks, apply ten drops, first dilute with water.
5. Wild garlic juice mixed with vodka in equal parts will help with periodontal disease. Rinse for two weeks.
6. Bear onion leaves are a remedy against bronchitis. Boil the leaves in wine for a few minutes. Strain, add honey. Drink the decoction in small sips.

Peculiarities of growing wild garlic in the regions

Cheremsha feels great in all regions of the forest zone of the former USSR and even in the tundra. It is easy to grow it in the forest-steppe zone.

During flowering, wild garlic is very decorative.

Growing wild garlic in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East . This is a region favorable for wild garlic; in local forests its Siberian variety (flask, victory onion) grows in huge quantities. In areas with deep snow cover, bear onion varieties can also be grown. But for areas with little snow and particularly severe frosts, bear onions are not winter-hardy enough; in such conditions, only the local bulb from the nearest forest survives.

Growing wild garlic in the North-West, including the Leningrad region. The region is very favorable for both types of wild garlic. Cool, cloudy, rainy summers make it possible to grow wild garlic even in open areas. Watering is rarely required, only during a long absence of rain.

Growing wild garlic in Belarus, northern Ukraine and central Russia, including the Moscow region. When planted in a semi-shaded or shady location, both types of wild garlic grow well here. In hot, dry weather, watering is required at least once a week. If wild garlic is planted under trees, watering is especially important: tree roots dry out the soil greatly.

Ramson is a “leisurely” plant, grows slowly, and produces only 1-2 replacement bulbs per year.

Growing wild garlic in the steppe zone of Ukraine and southern Russia. It’s not comfortable here for wild garlic: it’s too hot and too dry. The problem can be solved by planting in dense shade on the north side of buildings. Watering 1-2 times a week is required. Here wild garlic grows best on the northern slopes, in deep ravines. It will be beneficial to be close to a stream that moisturizes the air.

History and description of the plant

In Russia, wild garlic is also known under other names: bear onion, khalba (flask), wild garlic. Halba is often associated with bears - they often feast on this plant after emerging from hibernation. It is known that wild garlic has a rich variety of beneficial substances and vitamins. Gives vigor and energy. On the territory of Russia it grows in the Siberian regions.

Externally, until it blooms, the plant resembles a lily of the valley; You can recognize it solely by the smell of garlic inherent in it. Bear onions are grown from a small onion. It has straight triangular stems. The height reaches 50 centimeters. Each stem produces two sharp long leaves. It bears fruit in the summer - from July to August.

Botanical illustration.

Ramson is unpretentious and therefore can grow quickly. Preferred locations for wild garlic are cool and shady. Bear onions do not like heat: at temperatures above twenty degrees, they can lose their taste. Therefore, this onion is often found in forests, lower reaches of rivers and foothills. Halba can be grown as a garden crop.

Diseases and pests of wild garlic

Pests and diseases are practically not dangerous for wild garlic. In rare cases, with severe waterlogging and acidic soils, rust appears on it, and then gray rot.

On a note! Yellowing and dying of leaves soon after flowering is a normal physiological process.

After flowering, wild garlic leaves gradually turn yellow and die; this is a normal natural process.

Among the pests, the onion leaf beetle (onion borer) is sometimes found. Beetles and their larvae feed on the leaves of wild garlic, other types of onions and garlic, as well as lilies, hazel grouse and other bulbous plants. The brightly colored red beetles are easily visible on plants and are easy to hand pick and destroy.

Crop varieties

Where does wild garlic grow in Russia?

Are there any varieties of wild garlic? After the flask was cultivated and began to be grown in garden plots, breeders became interested in it. Scientists have worked hard, and several varieties or varieties of this plant have been developed. They can be easily grown in the garden. Moreover, each variety has its own characteristics.

There are three varieties:

• Teddy bear;
• Bear delicacy;
• Bear ear.

Bear is the earliest green. From the moment the first shoots appear until harvest, only 2 weeks pass. 1.5 kg of greenery is collected from one square meter. If you plant the variety in March, then fresh aromatic herbs will be on the table in mid-April. The grass is not afraid of sub-zero temperatures. The seedlings will not be affected by the accumulation of water in the garden.

This variety usually has longer leaves than wild wild garlic. They grow up to 25-35 cm. The color is emerald. There is a slight waxy coating. The height of the bush is about 50-60 cm.

Flowering variety Bear

The Bear Delicacy variety is so called because of its abundant harvest. From one square meter you can collect 2 kg of greens. The leaves are long and fleshy. The height of the plant is 50 cm. The average length of the leaves is about 20-30 cm. This variety is most often prepared: salted, pickled. From the appearance of the plant to the collection of its leaves, 2.5-4 weeks pass.

The bear's ear matures 3 weeks after the bush emerges from the ground. The taste is spicy, but not spicy, rather gentle and pleasant. The leaves are elongated and narrow. Light green color. To find out the answer to the question “wild cherry, what kind of plant is this?” You need to try this particular variety. All fans of proper nutrition like it. Bear's Ear produces a bountiful harvest of quality grass. One square meter can accommodate 2.5 kg of greenery.

Collection of wild garlic leaves

The yield of wild garlic reaches 3 kg per square meter. However, you can cut leaves from plants only in the third year of development. At the same time, you need to know that the removed vegetative part will not resume this year, and therefore it will be possible to harvest greens again in the same place only after two or three years.

Bulbs, leaves and young shoots, which have a piquant taste, are used for food.

Based on this, it makes sense to grow wild garlic in three beds at once, with planting increments of one year, or to collect leaves selectively.

What it is

Ramson is a perennial plant with an onion-garlic aroma, the young greens of which are used fresh in green and other salads, and also as a seasoning in all dishes that require garlic.

It is grown as a garden crop, but more often it is collected growing wild.

The leaves can be eaten raw or quickly cooked. Wild garlic is added to omelettes, soups or sauces for meat and fish.

What wild garlic looks like - photo

Useful properties and uses of wild garlic

Wild garlic is valued primarily for its high content of nutrients. Vitamin A, B1, B2, C, PP, folic acid, niacin, iodine, fluoride, calcium, selenium, zinc - what’s in it! Thanks to this, it stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, has a positive effect on blood composition, cleanses the skin, helps with colds, strengthens the immune system, heals the cardiovascular system, accelerates metabolism, and is characterized by pronounced bactericidal properties.

On a note! It is recommended to eat no more than 15–20 asthenia leaves per day. At the same time, it is better to eat raw wild garlic in combination with butter or sour cream. This way you can avoid damage to the walls of the stomach by the active substances contained in the plant. However, excessive consumption of wild garlic can still cause unpleasant consequences - headaches and insomnia.

The leaves and stems of wild garlic are collected and used for food before flowering.

Both the leaves, the stem, and the bulb are edible. It is used raw, in salads, as side dishes, in cooking, pickled, dried, and infused.

Properties of the plant that are beneficial to the body

Chemical composition of wild garlic

• Vitamins A, groups B, PP, C;
• Folic acid;
• Minerals (zinc, calcium, fluorine, selenium, iodine);
• Glycosides;
• Essential oil;
• Phytoncides;
• Carotene;
• Alimentary fiber;
• Mineral salts.

Medicinal properties of wild garlic

• Anti-inflammatory;
• Antibacterial;
• Antiviral;
• Wound healing;
• Diuretic;
• Diuretics;
• Antisclerotic;
• Antihelminthic;
• General strengthening.

The plant has a lot of beneficial effects on the body and helps in the treatment and prevention of many diseases.

Physiological role

• Stimulates the functioning of the stomach and intestinal motility;
• Cleanses the blood and enriches its composition;
• Increases hemoglobin levels;
• Normalizes thyroid function;
• Relieves symptoms of flu and colds;
• Improves cardiovascular activity;
• Stimulates metabolic processes;
• Strengthens the immune system;
• Enriches the body with useful substances and vitamins;
• Helps the secretion of gastric juice and better absorption of food;
• Cleanses from impurities and toxins;
• Reduces blood pressure;
• Prevents the formation of harmful cholesterol;
• Has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system;
• Eliminates depression;
• Combats skin problems.

What does it help with?

• Bronchopulmonary diseases (asthma, bronchitis);
• Rheumatism, osteochondrosis, arthritis, neuralgia;
• Scurvy, fever;
• Parasites and worms;
• Weak immunity;
• Trophic and purulent wounds;
• Gynecological diseases (including trichomonas colpitis);
• Hypertension;
• Vitamin deficiency and anemia;
• Atherosclerosis;
• Diabetes mellitus;
• Purulent otitis.

Reviews of wild garlic

Helen 2561:

And for several years I tried to germinate wild garlic from seeds, and the result was 0. I sowed before winter and tried seedlings - all to no avail. Seeds from different manufacturers, but the result is the same. Apparently, by the time the seeds reach us, they have already lost their germination capacity. It is more reliable to find bulbs from someone, but so far it has not been possible.

Sveta2609:

It grows on me and requires minimal care. But in the spring it is a storehouse of vitamins. We use it mainly fresh. The plant is shade-loving, grows under trees and shrubs, but requires sufficient moisture. Prefers neutral soils; it tolerates alkaline and strongly acidic soils very poorly. It propagates mainly vegetatively, by replacement bulbs; seeds are propagated only by winter sowing. If you sow with seeds, then cut the greenery no earlier than in the third year, in order to give it the opportunity to grow well in the designated area.

SAD:

And what we did with wild garlic was quite funny. We sown the seeds, but they did not germinate. They sowed for the sake of experiment, without particularly hoping for germination, under an apple tree, in the shade. A year later, while pulling weeds, the wife discovered wild garlic, which “deigned” to emerge into the light of day only in the second year. There were few wild garlic, only three or four bushes, and they were “clogged” with weeds.

Olga5432:

Wild garlic, popularly called wild garlic, has a strong garlicky smell, grows up to 40 cm, the stem is erect, the leaves are pointed and resemble the leaves of a lily of the valley. Wild garlic is collected from mid-May to early summer, I use the fresh plant as a spice, I make salads with wild garlic and eggs, I use mayonnaise or sour cream as a dressing, and if desired, you can chop radishes or cucumbers. Wild garlic can be stored for use in the winter; it is useful both fresh and salted; I use it every year in moderation.

Iliad:

I bought wild garlic plants for planting in the garden in early spring at the market. I planted weak plants with a not very good root system not far from the cherry trees, in partial shade. I watered it for several days. The wild garlic took root and even bloomed that same year. There is no need to pick wild garlic leaves for food in the first year - let them take root better. Tender greenery appears already in April and from the second year it can already be picked (a few leaves per plant) and eaten. Very healthy greens with many vitamins, smelling of garlic, which is perfect for spring salads, but they are also eaten boiled and pickled.

Growing wild garlic in the garden is not at all difficult. If you follow simple rules of care, this beautiful, unpretentious plant will decorate your garden for many years and delight you with the spring harvest of delicious, vitamin-rich greens. Growing wild garlic in garden plots will help preserve its thickets in the wild intact, which is especially important for those regions where wild wild garlic has already become a rarity.

Note! In nature, wild garlic grows in large clumps, filling vast areas. If you allow it to drop seeds in the garden, over time the plant will turn into a nasty weed.

Preparation and storage

Wild garlic can be eaten fresh and stored for the winter: canned, salted, pickled. For freezing, it is better to choose whole leaves. They need to be washed in running water and allowed to dry a little. Afterwards you need to chop it up and put it in a plastic bag or container and put it in the freezer. This preparation option will help preserve all useful components.

Pickling

You need to pickle bear onions in the spring. At this time, the maximum amount of vitamins is concentrated in the plant.

• For pickling, you need to take fresh wild garlic leaves and salt (proportion 2 to 1).
• Wash the leaves, place them on the bottom of the jar (up to 3 cm layer, sprinkle each layer with salt). The jar must be pre-sterilized.
• Close the jar with a plastic lid and store in a cool place.

Pickled wild garlic with tomato

• Wash 1 kg of wild garlic and grind it using a meat grinder.
• Add 200 gr. vegetable oil, 200 gr. tomato paste, 1.5 tablespoons of sugar and the same amount of salt.
• Mix the mixture, bring to a boil, and keep on low heat for a couple of minutes.
• You will need to pour the resulting mass into pre-sterilized jars.
• The finished product will remain rolled up with lids and stored in a cool place.

Benefits of wild garlic

Now that you know what wild garlic is (see photo in the review), it’s worth talking about the beneficial properties of this plant.

Ramson is a real storehouse of useful substances. Therefore, it is often used for various diseases. For example, it can help with scurvy and various intestinal infections. Animals actively eat leaves to get rid of worms. The product also improves the condition of people suffering from atherosclerosis.

Special substances contained in the leaves help lower blood pressure, strengthen the heart, and reduce the number of cholesterol plaques.

It is not surprising that many doctors recommend adding wild garlic to the diet of people suffering from atherosclerosis, hypertension or vitamin deficiency. If you chew a fresh leaf of wild garlic, then harmful microorganisms that live in abundance in the human oral cavity will be destroyed. Some experts believe that the phytoncides contained in the leaves not only strengthen the nervous system, but also improve metabolism, which leads to normal weight.

Video: what wild garlic looks like

You can collect seeds yourself. Practice shows that approximately every tenth plant in the garden blooms every year. The inflorescence is shaped like an almost regular ball and consists of small white flowers. Round black seeds ripen in the second or third ten days of June in triangular fruit “boxes”. They are cut off when they begin to turn yellow. Then the shell will harden and it will be very difficult to open it without damaging the planting material for the next season. The seeds are poured out of the “box,” dried and stored in a dry, cool, dark place with good ventilation in paper bags or linen bags until planting. The “harvest” is 100–120 seeds per plant.

By collecting wild garlic seeds yourself, you can be sure of their freshness.

When purchasing, be sure to pay attention to the expiration date. They should have been collected last summer, not earlier. Older ones are no different in germination. They can also be distinguished by their appearance - they are not black and round, but grayish and wrinkled.

In spring, young wild garlic shoots appear almost from under the snow.

The area chosen for planting seeds is dug up in advance to a depth of 40–50 cm (the roots of the plants are quite powerful). At the same time, weeds and other plant debris are removed. Slaked lime, dolomite flour or eggshells crushed to a powder form (200–300 g per linear meter) are added to the acidic soil. You can also use wood ash - it is not only a good deoxidizer, but also saturates the soil with potassium and phosphorus. About two weeks before planting, the bed is loosened, adding organic fertilizer to increase soil fertility. Humus or rotted compost will do. But it is undesirable to use fresh manure and droppings. Such a potent agent can “burn” the roots of emerging seedlings.

Humus is an effective means of increasing soil fertility

Most gardeners practice autumn planting of wild garlic seeds, doing this in the first ten days of September. The latest possible date is mid-October. The specific time is chosen based on the climatic conditions in the region. The optimal temperature for them is about 20°C. If it exceeds 25–26°C or below 10°C within a month after planting, the gardener will, at best, wait for single shoots.

Before planting, the seeds definitely need stratification, simulating winter “hibernation”. They are mixed with sand or peat, the substrate is moistened and the container is placed in a refrigerator or other place with a constant temperature of 0–3°C for 80–100 days. Another option is to wrap the seeds in a wet cloth or paper napkin, put it in a glass jar and roll up the lid. The substrate is moistened as necessary. Usually once a week is enough. They need to be shaken periodically to ensure access to fresh air.

Seed stratification imitates their “wintering” under natural conditions

Growing wild garlic

There are different ways to breed a crop:

1. Seeds. Difficult, inconvenient, painstaking.
2. Bulbs. Easy to grow, but difficult to find planting material.
3. By dividing the bush, the plant is dug up and the children are separated. They are seated in a new place.
4. Seedlings - seeds are sown in boxes in the fall. The sprouts sprout in May.

Maintenance is simple - watering from spring to mid-summer, weeding, mulching with peat or humus, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers no earlier than 2 weeks before harvest.

To view growing tips:

Ramson is a useful plant used for various purposes. It is important to follow the dosage and remember the contraindications.

Video: sowing wild garlic into a snail after stratification

Ramson is a wonderful gift from nature, allowing people to diversify and enrich their diet. But it is important to understand that this is a slow-growing herb and collecting it on an industrial scale will lead to the complete disappearance of valuable onions. Therefore, the cultivation of wild garlic in household plots can be considered an environmental protection measure.

Video: health benefits of wild garlic

Ramson is not yet particularly popular among Russian gardeners. But this is completely undeserved. In spring, this is practically the only fresh greenery, an irreplaceable source of vitamins and microelements. The plant is very unpretentious; even a gardener without any experience can cultivate wild garlic on his own plot.

Video: tips for growing wild garlic

Video

Sources

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• https://nyamkin.ru/advice/cheremsha-chto-eto-takoe-gde-rastet-i-kak-sobiraetsya
• https://pripravit.ru/opisanie/cheremsha-poleznye-svojstva
• https://travuscka.ru/lekarstvennye-rasteniya/cheremsha
• https://edaplus.info/produce/ramson.html
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• https://diz-cafe.com/sad-ogorod/cheremsha-vyirashhivanie-iz-semyan.html

Excursion into a historical epic

The ancient Romans, Celts and Germans were familiar with this unusual culture. According to numerous legends, it was the inhabitants of ancient Germany who gave the plant the interesting name “bear onion”.

According to an ancient legend, one day a mighty bear, waking up after hibernation, became very weak.

It was the wild garlic that helped the forest king get stronger and stand on his paws.

Since then, when bears emerge from their dens, the first thing they do is find spicy grass in the forest to taste it and gain strength.

Charlemagne's contribution

The medieval Frankish emperor, a great admirer of aromatic herbs and seasonings, made an invaluable contribution to the spread of culture.

At his command, wild garlic, the properties and aroma of which pleased the sovereign, was included in the great decree.

The culture became an important plant, recommended for cultivation in all gardens of subjects.

Thanks to the king, the delicate spice gained wide popularity and a few years later filled all gardens and private plantings.

But the monks who lived in monasteries did not honor wild garlic. Those close to God believed that this fragrant culture kindled carnal desires and promoted rejuvenation.

It was the monks who were the first to notice the medicinal properties of a unique creation of nature.

Love of the modern world

Soon, interest in wild garlic slowly faded away with the departure of Charlemagne. But only to wake up with new strength in modern society.

And all thanks to the fact that the current generation of people loves to eat delicious food, and modern chefs love to experiment.

Bear onions, containing 20 times more ascorbic acid compared to lemons and oranges, are a favorite in modern hearty and healthy cuisine.

But most of all the plant is respected and loved in the country of its discovery - Germany. There is even the capital of this unique culture - the city of Eberbach.

In this city, every year in the spring, magnificent celebrations are held, glorifying wild garlic, which all local residents are engaged in cultivating.

At the celebrations you can not only try new dishes, but also learn a lot of interesting things about this bulbous plant.

This is interesting . The bear's onion's edible leaves are very similar in appearance to the poisonous leaves of autumn colchicum and lily of the valley. To avoid getting them confused and poisoned, just rub a leaf of the plant in your palms. Ramson gives itself away with a distinct garlic aroma.

How to properly collect and store

There are many plants that look very similar to wild garlic. And if, when collecting bear onions for food, they confuse them with lilies of the valley, I must say, this is not the biggest tragedy. It will be worse if one of the poisonous herbs, whose leaves are also very similar to wild garlic, ends up on the table instead of wild garlic. The easiest way to make sure you are picking the right plant is to rub the leaf between your fingers. After such manipulations, wild garlic will give off its characteristic garlic aroma; other plants will not have it.

For culinary purposes, as a rule, only young wild garlic leaves are used - before the plant blooms. At the same time, grass bulbs are also collected. Old, very dense or limp leaves are not suitable for consumption, as they contain almost no useful substances.

Rules for caring for wild garlic sprouts

The most important thing is regular, abundant watering. It is necessary to constantly check whether the soil has dried out: it must be constantly moist. You need to know which watering method is preferable. It is best to water this plant with a watering can, but not with a hose. You need to water the wild garlic very carefully so as not to wash away its seeds and roots, otherwise it will die.

The bed must be constantly weeded to remove weeds. In addition, you need to regularly loosen the soil with a small rake so that air reaches the roots and bulb, otherwise they will rot.

You need to fertilize the soil twice a year - in mid-April and at the end of June. To do this, you will need complex mineral fertilizers, as well as compost. Superphosphates and ammonium nitrate are very useful for this plant. There is a clear sign by which you can determine whether it is time to feed. If the wild garlic has arrows, it means it’s time to feed it with fertilizers containing phosphorus and calcium.

Excellent immunity against diseases and pests

This plant does not require shelter for the winter: it will overwinter well under snow cover. But heat and drought are deadly for him.

Planting wild garlic bulbs

It is better to start growing wild garlic using bulbs. In this case, the probability of success is higher, and the harvest can be harvested the following year. First you need to choose the right bulbs. They must have live, fresh roots. Dry ones most likely will not take root. Own bulbs are taken from plants 3 years old and older.

The optimal time for planting in open ground is September and October, but you can do this in early spring and summer. If the bulbs are taken from your own garden, then it is better to replant them in September. By this time, the above-ground part of the plants will have already died off, so you need to mark in advance the place from where to dig them up. Immediately after being removed from the ground, they need to be planted in a prepared bed so that they do not have time to dry out.

Before planting, dig up the soil to a depth of 20 cm, add compost and lime if necessary. Place the onion in the prepared hole, straighten its roots and bury 2/3 of it with loose soil. Then it is watered, peat or compost is placed on top with a layer of 2–3 cm, then another 5–10 cm of fallen leaves. Leave 10–15 cm between the bulbs, 25–30 cm between the rows.

Ramson can be replanted in small clumps, that is, groups of bulbs growing together. In this case, you need to leave a distance of half a meter between them. Over time, the plants will multiply and fill the empty space.

In early spring, part of last year's foliage is removed from the transplanted bulbs, leaving a layer 2–3 cm thick. If flower shoots begin to appear in the first year, it is better to remove them so that they do not weaken the plant.

Contraindications

Due to its pungent taste, irritant effect, and choleretic effect, the following diseases are contraindications to the use of wild garlic:

• gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers - will aggravate the process;
• cholelithiasis - can provoke the movement of stones;
• bear onion can lower blood pressure - it is not recommended to use if you have hypotension;
• in acute or chronic pancreatitis there will be a sharp deterioration;
• not recommended for children under 12 years of age.

It is possible to develop a food allergy to wild garlic and dishes containing it. If the daily norm is exceeded, poisoning occurs. Its symptoms:

• abdominal pain;
• weakness;
• dizziness;
• cough;
• burning sensation in the throat.

You should consult a doctor immediately.

Composition and calorie content

When used correctly, wild garlic has a whole range of positive effects on the human body:

• strengthens defenses;
• destroys pathogenic microorganisms;
• normalizes the course of important processes;
• shows extraordinary abilities in treating a huge number of diseases.

Of course, such a wide range of possibilities can only be provided by the components that make up the plant. Ramson can easily compete with representatives of overseas flora in its range of useful ingredients. Despite the wild lifestyle, this plant contains a lot of useful substances.

We list only the main groups of components that bear onions are rich in:

1. The vitamin complex is presented in the entire variety of B vitamins.
2. High levels of ascorbic acid, folic acid and provitamin A.
3. There are vital organic acids.
4. Essential amino acids.
5. Mineral salts, including: boron, iodine, iron, zinc and other representatives of this group.
6. There is fructose and natural poly- and monosugars.
7. Essential oils are also present in high concentrations in the plant, especially in its leaves.
8. Starches, ash, phytoncides, and fiber is also present in large quantities.

Nutritional value of this plant product (in 100 grams of wild garlic):

• proteins – 2.4 g;
• carbohydrates – 6.1 g;
• fats – 0.1 g;
• dietary fiber – 1 g;
• water – 89 gr.

The calorie content of a 100-gram serving of fresh wild garlic is about 35 kcal, which is a relatively low figure.

Harm and contraindications

Any plant, especially one as specific as wild garlic, in addition to its positive qualities, has its own disadvantages of use. Thus, fresh plant juice has very aggressive properties, so it should be used carefully for oral administration. But there are complete contraindications for the use of this plant in any form.

In this list:

1. The period of pregnancy and breastfeeding in women.
2. Tinctures, decoctions, and teas with bear onions should not be taken orally by persons suffering from gastritis, hepatitis, peptic ulcers, pancreatitis and some other diseases of the digestive system.
3. This product is also contraindicated for patients with epilepsy.
4. Those who have an individual intolerance to this perennial or any individual components of its composition should not consume wild garlic in any form.

To prevent side effects from an overdose of a herbal preparation, you must strictly follow the instructions for use and observe the prescribed dosage. If you do not adhere to this rule, excessive consumption of the flask can lead to persistent insomnia, diarrhea, and serious cardiac problems.

We recommend reading: Tarragon grass: beneficial properties and contraindications

The most reasonable thing is to do a sensitivity test before starting to take medications and add greens to your diet by applying a drop of fresh juice to the inside of your elbow. If after a day the skin in this place remains unchanged, then you can use wild garlic.

The benefits and harms of wild garlic

But as summer approaches, the flask becomes bitter and hard. It is interesting that this wild plant with a specific garlic smell is collected not only by club-footed people, but also by people who prefer a vegetarian diet. True, without knowledge of the matter, this trade can be dangerous, since there are varieties of poisonous wild garlic that can easily be poisoned. Only experienced herbalists know where the “bear meadows” are located, where they can harvest a rich harvest of vitamin-rich greens.

Externally, wild garlic looks modest. Under favorable conditions, the plant can reach a height of up to half a meter, and at the time of flowering, white inflorescences similar to umbrellas appear at the very top. It is by the flowers that it is easy to visually distinguish lily of the valley from wild garlic. It should also be added that, thanks to the caustic ethereal component released by the leaves of the plant, wild garlic is able to expand its range with amazing speed, displacing its neighbors from its living space.

Pickling wild garlic

Marinating does not cause unnecessary problems - the procedure is as simple as possible. You need to take:

• 2 kilograms of wild garlic leaves.
• 1.5 liters of water.
• 1 tablespoon vinegar (6%).
• 2 teaspoons salt.

The leaves are washed twice and then placed in salted boiling water. After boiling for two minutes, the leaves are removed and placed in sterilized jars. Vinegar is added to the brine, after which it is poured into jars. The jars are immediately rolled up or closed with plastic lids. Having cooled to room temperature, pickled wild garlic can easily stand in a cellar or other cool place for a whole year or even more.

What are the benefits of wild garlic for weight loss?

The low calorie content of fresh wild garlic makes the plant attractive for inclusion in a diet for weight loss. But we must take into account that the calorie content of a fried vegetable product increases almost three times - up to 124 kcal. Therefore, to bring body weight back to normal, it is advisable to use fresh stems and leaves of the plant, which are an excellent ingredient for vitamin salads. Fresh herbs can be added to soups.

Ramson goes perfectly with the following vegetables:

• cucumbers;
• bell pepper;
• tomatoes;
• green onions;
• cabbage

You will get a hearty dish if you combine wild onions with boiled eggs. It is best to cook food in vegetable oil, but you can season your dishes with low-fat sour cream and yogurt. When creating a weight loss program that includes wild garlic in your diet, you should take into account that this plant helps increase appetite. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the norm, and it is also necessary to control the amount of food consumed.

A diet containing flask will improve metabolism and metabolism, which is very important when losing weight. The components of the plant perfectly remove excess fluid from the body. If you don’t like salads and main dishes with the addition of wild garlic, you can brew healing tea, the regular use of which will also stimulate weight loss. The drink is prepared from finely chopped fresh herbs (1 tbsp) by regular brewing. After infusing for half an hour, you can drink half a glass of tea three times a day before meals.

Experts have not yet developed a special diet based on wild garlic, but the natural product will be appropriate in any low-calorie diet aimed at productive weight loss. True, during such a diet you need to monitor your own well-being, and if your condition worsens, immediately stop eating wild garlic.

Wild garlic or bear onion

06/17/2017 In early spring, at the market you can find this interesting spicy-aromatic crop with a fresh, pungent, garlic-onion smell, the leaves of which are very reminiscent of lily of the valley. Cheremsha

or
Bear onion
(lat.
Állium ursínum
, Amaryllis family) is a perennial herbaceous plant rich in vitamins and minerals, known since ancient times for its healing properties. Traces of wild garlic are found today during archaeological excavations at the site of Celtic, ancient Germanic, ancient Roman settlements, which are more than 5000 years old.

In Medieval France, it was introduced into mandatory culture as a remedy to help with epidemic diseases (measles, cholera, typhoid fever, plague, influenza), scurvy, fever, vitamin deficiency, infectious intestinal diseases, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and also as an anthelmintic drug. In Germany, wild garlic is still revered today; its bulbs and herbs are added to dough when baking bread, used as one of the components of pesto sauce, flavored butter, and even an annual celebration is held - a festival dedicated to this food-flavoring and healing herb. In the cuisine of the peoples of the Caucasus, wild garlic is an indispensable seasoning for hot meat and fish dishes, and a mixture of crushed leaves with cheese serves as a filling for traditional bread products (flatbread, pita bread, pies, etc.).

The composition of wild garlic includes a huge amount of ascorbic acid, vitamins (A, group B, PP), phytoncides, thiamine, riboflavin, beta-carotene, pyridoxine, fructose, mineral salts (calcium, potassium, sulfur, fluorine), as well as spicy essential oil and glycoside allicin, which gives the plant a specific pungent taste and aroma. All these substances have a beneficial effect on human health. Including wild garlic in the diet helps improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, cleanse the body of toxins, remove cholesterol, and reduce blood pressure. Also, fresh wild garlic leaves disinfect the oral mucosa. To prevent stomatitis, gingivitis, and periodontitis, it is enough to chew them for 3-5 minutes several times a day.

In the wild, wild garlic is distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Europe; it is found in Turkey (Asia Minor) and in the Caucasus, in Siberia. It loves shade and moisture, so it is most often found in forests, mountains, along the banks of streams, lakes, and rivers. In March - April, wild garlic is one of the first to germinate and forms a rosette of two, rarely three, tender, juicy leaves 15 - 25 cm long. The compact bush reaches a height of 30 - 50 cm. The plant is collected before it enters the flowering phase (usually during two weeks). With the appearance of the flower arrow, the leaves lose their delicate structure and juiciness.

All parts are eaten: leaves, stem and bulb. Young greens are pickled, canned, salted, and stored for future use. When dried, the aroma of the plant disappears, and when frozen, some valuable substances are lost. Most often, wild garlic is used raw as part of vitamin and dietary salads, additives in first courses, as a component of pastes, sauces, and fillings. With a low calorie content (about 36 kcal/100 g), wild garlic is rich in fiber, valuable organic acids, protein, fats, carbohydrates, mono- and disaccharides, and fructose. It is recommended in dietary and baby food as a substitute for garlic.

To avoid unpleasant consequences (insomnia, dizziness, diarrhea), you should observe moderation in consuming wild garlic (no more than 20 leaves per day for an adult). In addition, it is not recommended for people with individual intolerance or allergies to garlic, hepatitis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcers, cholecystitis, epilepsy, chronic gastrointestinal inflammation and pregnancy.

In recent years, wild garlic glades have been ruthlessly destroyed due to increased consumer demand, so the plant is listed in the Red Book. To preserve it in nature and at the same time use this valuable source of vitamins, many gardeners practice growing the crop themselves.

To grow wild garlic in your own garden plot, you need to create conditions for the plant that are close to natural: shade or partial shade, moist, calcium-rich soil (without stagnant water or waterlogging), mulching the soil. Acidic soils require liming. Typically, shaded areas are not suitable for most garden plants and, as a rule, are empty, so wild garlic will not compete with sun-loving crops and will help to rationally use the planting area. Since the plant is a perennial (can grow in one place for up to 7 years), before planting it is recommended to first enrich the soil with organic matter (leaf humus, compost, bird droppings 1:20 or humus 1:10).

In the wild, wild garlic is easily propagated by seeds. After flowering is completed, which occurs in May - June, seeds are formed on the inflorescences in the seed pods. Their ripening does not occur simultaneously, and some of the ripened seeds immediately spill out and fall on the ground, so they are collected at the stage of incomplete ripeness (when the boxes begin to darken). The outer shell of the seed becomes stronger and harder over time. To avoid difficulties in seed germination, they are sown in late July - early August, soon after harvest, or before winter (low temperatures will help avoid stratification). To do this, it is enough to sow the seeds in the furrows to a depth of 1 - 1.5 cm and mulch well. When the snow melts, some of the mulch should be removed. Shoots can be expected no earlier than the beginning of April. During this time, it is better not to disturb the plant; only in case of severe drought it is necessary to moisten the area with crops. Wild garlic grows slowly. In the first year of life, it forms only one small leaf (up to 5 cm). And the first harvest can be harvested only after 3 - 5 years.

You can also cultivate wild garlic from bulbs, the number of which increases by one with each new year of wild garlic growth. The bulb should be taken from a donor plant that is at least 4 years old. At the same time, it is very important to preserve the root system from damage as much as possible. Bulbs are planted when the plant is in a dormant period (not earlier than August). To do this, make small holes at a distance of 15 - 20 cm from each other with row spacing of 20 - 40 cm, where the bulbs are placed so that their upper part (1/3) is above the surface of the ground. The beds are mulched with peat or leaf humus. If the autumn is dry, additional watering is necessary. All other care rules are repeated as in the case of seed cultivation.

Russian breeders have developed several varieties of wild garlic that have proven themselves well. The most famous among them are: “Teddy Bear”, “Bear Ear”, “Delicacy”, etc.

How to care for a plant

Ramson is a completely unpretentious crop. It requires a minimum of care and maintenance, and after just a few years it will generously reward the owner of the site with rich thickets.

What is the care:

• Early spring. As soon as the first sprouts of the plant appear on the site, the plot should be very carefully cleared of last year’s fallen leaves.
• Mid-April. This is the time for the first fertilizing of the crop. We encourage the tender shoots with a solution of nitrogen fertilizer (15-20 g of urea per bucket of water).
• May June. During this period, the plant needs thorough nutrition. A complete application of a mineral fertilizer solution is carried out (30-40 g of wood ash per bucket of water).

Watering . The soil on the plot must be kept moist throughout the growing season. Watering stops in mid-July. At this time, the leaves of the plant are already beginning to turn yellow.

Powder . Wild garlic annually “lifts” its bulbs from the soil (by 0.5-1 cm). At this time, the plant puts out its horizontal roots.

From the second year of life, wild garlic plantings should be regularly supplemented with soil or compacted with fallen leaves.

A thin layer of leaves creates favorable conditions for the development of crops, bringing them as close as possible to natural ones.

This measure also allows you to reduce the amount of fertilizer applied.

Winter . The flask does not require additional measures to insulate the plots.

But, if the winter period turns out to be little snow, it is better to cover the crop areas with fallen leaves, straw or spruce branches.

Pests and diseases

Ramson is a unique plant. The strong plant is rarely attacked by pests - they are repelled by the pronounced garlic aroma of the leaves.

But if they appear on the plant (when damage to the leaves is noticeable), the crop should be doused with a saline solution (100-120 g of salt per bucket of water).

The next day, the remaining salt is washed off with regular watering from a watering can.

Diseases also avoid this culture. If you suddenly notice a coating on the leaves of a plant, similar to rusty spots, it is very easy to deal with it.

The affected areas should be doused with a solution of copper oxychloride (a tablespoon of the substance per 10 liters of water). You can add a little liquid soap to the solution.

This healing rinse is repeated after 1.5-2 weeks. During the period of treatment of the plant, it is not recommended to eat wild garlic leaves; wait 2-2.5 weeks.

But then don’t forget to rinse them thoroughly.