Anyone seen any fiddleheads this year yet????

Fiddleheads: Also called the "ostrich feather" plant grows near dampness or water, in the woods, roadsides near streams, fields etc...

I live in the greater Toronto area (Barrie) and was wondering if anyone in there walking rituals has seen any fiddleheads growing yet, in this area, if so where but more importantly when?  I love them but always seem to either be to early or to late to pick them.  I'm reasonably new to this area and haven't been able to spot any yet in the last few years.  Can anyone help me??  Post any info you have that may be helpful to me I must have my fiddleheads this year in 2008........lol.......Thanks in advance!!.....Nancy

Fiddlehead season usually starts in May and goes through early June in good years in northern climates.  They should just now be coming out.  You can also check the website for the nearest farmers' market.  They'll usually have a list of what's in season.  If the professional foragers have found them, it's time to start looking.  That's how I check up on what mushrooms and other wild foods to look for on hikes.  Good luck!

I know what these are but I have never had any.  How do you prepare them?

I think I've seen a recipe where they were braised in a balsamic vinegar sauce. 

I've never had them either.  So curious!  I seem to recall them being v. v. v. expensive, if you don't grow/find them yourself.

Fiddleheads are nothing but baby ferns so I don't know if you can really grow them in a home garden.  They are such a pain to clean   Usually April/May is fiddlehead season but I haven't seen them in the stores yet.  Good luck on your hunt

Pick them when there about 6 inches tall and not all from one plant, theres about 5-8 different stalks, blanch in water twice as water gets brown...for a couple minutes or so..then you can saute with whatever and lemon juice or vinegar..i like just boiling till crisp tender after rinsing or blanching mix with butter salt and pepper...the same you do with spinach or asparagus....there...bye...i take it you haven't seen any????????????

Yes you can grow them in your garden if i can find some i'll pick a couple roots....then i'll know when to go out and pick them when they come up but first I have to find them..............

RIGHT!!

Haven't seen them in the store yet, but when I was at our cottage (NS, CANADA) I saw some sprouting up in the woods...so I'd say we'll see them in the produce section soon :)

I have tons of them in a section of my yard.  They were here when I moved in but last time I checked..they were pretty much uncurled and regular looking ferns.  I'm in Southwestern CT.

I'm in Northern CT and I also have tons of them in my yard.  They are about 6" to 10" tall and some are starting to uncurl.  We have found them growing wild on hiking trails and in the woods and we have transplanted them around the edge of our yard to make a natural border.  They are beautiful but I never considered eating them!

Hey eveybody....I'm only interesting in the Toronto or GTA area...the states growing them is of no use to me up here???....please and thankyou!!

MOved from duplicate thread

Original Post by torli:

I'd check the St. Lawrence Farmer's Market on Saturday morning. If the vendors don't have any, ask them; they might know!

 

Oh i wanted to add this picture of the "FIDDLEHEADS" for anyone interested in helping me find any patches here in Toronto or Barrie, Ontario area.

remember to blanch them (water turns black), then either freeze or mix with butter, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar, if desired....tastes like spinach and asparagus....thanks in advance....Nancy...in Barrie, Ontario