RAMPS -- Anyone growing them? - Page 2

Darren Abbey · May 2, 2013

I've found a few patches, including some that are 'sweet' instead of sulfurous.

Deborah · May 2, 2013

I've never heard of them but this makes an interesting read. I guess California wouldn't have them?

biscgolf · May 3, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormato

Diggin' up an old thread.

Anyone ramp it up, this time of year?

Gary

my buddy always brings me some from his inlaws in West Virginia. ramps are late this year (like everything else around here) so only got a few this year. still persisted in my thus far fruitless quest to plant some and have them take- those are still alive as of a couple days ago when last i checked.

Darren Abbey · May 3, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deborah

I've never heard of them but this makes an interesting read. I guess California wouldn't have them?

There are other wild onions in that part of the country, but Allium tricoccum is mostly a plant of the Eastern Woodlands.

Deborah · May 3, 2013

Oh, thanks. I can Google.

**carolyn137** · May 3, 2013

I don't grow ramps, they grow themselves all over the place in upstate NY where I live.

Walk into the woods, usually tall trees and shaded lightly, pull some ramps, sit on a log, shake off the dirt from the bulbs and eat!

Carolyn

tjg911 · May 4, 2013

(everyone should) CUT don't pull them or you'll rip up the roots... they are a cut and come again (next year) plant.

tom

hank · May 4, 2013

I have started looking into them because of this thread. The smelly after effect gives me pause, but a ramp party would be great. I do worry that my cows may go off their feed. Hank

**carolyn137** · May 4, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjg911

(everyone should) CUT don't pull them or you'll rip up the roots... they are a cut and come again (next year) plant.

tom

Tom, what you call roots is the bulb that one eats, that is after the bulb forms. Why would someone pull them when there are just real roots there, ala onions, etc.

Ramps around here spread like wildfire so from small patches come LARGE patches.

What am I missing, ramp eater that I am.

Carolyn

tjg911 · May 4, 2013

you are correct carolyn the ramp has a bulb like a tiny onion. it has always been my understanding that you should cut the ramp leaf and not pull the plant out with the bulb included. if you cut the leaves the bulb remains and regrows otherwise you yanked the plant out and it won't be there next year. ramps grow in patches so when you find them it looks like there are a lot but i'm always careful to insure the plants will be there next year.

all that said, i stopped picking ramps several years ago. ct is infested with ticks so i don't go into the woods and avoid leaf litter. this pretty much precluded picking ramps.

one day in april while driving down a dirt road i spotted ramps close to the road. i was able to stand on the road and not get into the leaf litter so i picked some leaves being extra careful to not get down in the leaf litter. i drove off eating a leaf enjoying the great taste when i felt a tickling on my hand. i took my eyes off the road to look and sure enough there's a dog tick (not the tiny deer tick) walking across the back of my hand. fortunately i was able to pull to the side of the road and stop immediately, jump out of the car and get that ^*#@(*& tick off me. i tossed all the ramp leaves out of the car. this was the last time i ever ate ramps in this life time.

tom

Tormato · May 13, 2013

I don't know what a ramp LEAF tastes like, but I guess I'll have to try one.

Tom,

Everyone I know eats only the bulbs.

Gary

Tormato · May 13, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by biscgolf

my buddy always brings me some from his inlaws in West Virginia. ramps are late this year (like everything else around here) so only got a few this year. still persisted in my thus far fruitless quest to plant some and have them take- those are still alive as of a couple days ago when last i checked.

The shadiest place in the garden (basically no direct sunlight) and lots of watering (in a rich soil that holds the water), is what works for me.

Gary

tjg911 · May 13, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormato

I don't know what a ramp LEAF tastes like, but I guess I'll have to try one.

Tom,

Everyone I know eats only the bulbs.

Gary

the leaf tastes like garlic greens. i guess they eat that plant just one time. cut and come again.

Tormato · May 14, 2013

They are like multiplier onions, around here. Dig out part of a clump, and a couple of years later the original clump is even bigger. The ones you find must be just establishing themselves (as single bulb plants).

Gary

Bluespirit · February 8, 2014

I see this is a very old posting but still want to comment. I harvest wild leeks every year (only 1/4 of a patch and always leave many) But still end up with at least one 33 gal bag full and i eat them all! lol Have replanted many in the borderline of woods and stream and they do very well as long as there is shade, coolness and water. Also have come across what I believe to be a more rare variety Allium burdckii all white and if I remember right, the leaves are more narrow.

May 3, 2013	#21
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I don't grow ramps, they grow themselves all over the place in upstate NY where I live. Walk into the woods, usually tall trees and shaded lightly, pull some ramps, sit on a log, shake off the dirt from the bulbs and eat! Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

May 4, 2013	#22
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	(everyone should) CUT don't pull them or you'll rip up the roots... they are a cut and come again (next year) plant. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

May 4, 2013	#25
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	you are correct carolyn the ramp has a bulb like a tiny onion. it has always been my understanding that you should cut the ramp leaf and not pull the plant out with the bulb included. if you cut the leaves the bulb remains and regrows otherwise you yanked the plant out and it won't be there next year. ramps grow in patches so when you find them it looks like there are a lot but i'm always careful to insure the plants will be there next year. all that said, i stopped picking ramps several years ago. ct is infested with ticks so i don't go into the woods and avoid leaf litter. this pretty much precluded picking ramps. one day in april while driving down a dirt road i spotted ramps close to the road. i was able to stand on the road and not get into the leaf litter so i picked some leaves being extra careful to not get down in the leaf litter. i drove off eating a leaf enjoying the great taste when i felt a tickling on my hand. i took my eyes off the road to look and sure enough there's a dog tick (not the tiny deer tick) walking across the back of my hand. fortunately i was able to pull to the side of the road and stop immediately, jump out of the car and get that ^#@(& tick off me. i tossed all the ramp leaves out of the car. this was the last time i ever ate ramps in this life time. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

May 2, 2013	#16
Darren Abbey Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 586	I've found a few patches, including some that are 'sweet' instead of sulfurous.

May 2, 2013	#17
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	I've never heard of them but this makes an interesting read. I guess California wouldn't have them?

May 4, 2013	#23
hank Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: winchester va usa Posts: 106	I have started looking into them because of this thread. The smelly after effect gives me pause, but a ramp party would be great. I do worry that my cows may go off their feed. Hank

May 13, 2013	#26
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,959	I don't know what a ramp LEAF tastes like, but I guess I'll have to try one. Tom, Everyone I know eats only the bulbs. Gary

May 14, 2013	#29
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,959	They are like multiplier onions, around here. Dig out part of a clump, and a couple of years later the original clump is even bigger. The ones you find must be just establishing themselves (as single bulb plants). Gary

February 8, 2014	#30
Bluespirit Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Northern Pa Posts: 1	I see this is a very old posting but still want to comment. I harvest wild leeks every year (only 1/4 of a patch and always leave many) But still end up with at least one 33 gal bag full and i eat them all! lol Have replanted many in the borderline of woods and stream and they do very well as long as there is shade, coolness and water. Also have come across what I believe to be a more rare variety Allium burdckii all white and if I remember right, the leaves are more narrow.