Content
- Is the fence vetch edible?
- System of fence vetch
- Edible plant parts
- How does the fence vetch taste?
- Tips
Not only for bees a pleasure: The Zaunwicke
Is the fence vetch edible?
Wild herbs grow inconspicuously along the way and are no longer considered by many. They are often very tasty and a valuable asset to the diet. Unlike the sweet vetch (Lathyrus), which is one of the poisonous plants, the Vicia is edible and very tasty.
System of fence vetch
The fence vetch is easy to identify, confusion with other plants are hardly possible. It grows as a perennial, herbaceous waking plant and forms long Bodenausläufer. If it grows before trellises such as fences or deadwood, it holds itself with the help of leafy tendrils. The feathery leaves are about five to eight inches long and are covered on the underside with a very fine hair fluff. The flowers are in racemose inflorescences and are reddish purple to dull blue, in exceptional cases, also white, colored.
The elongated pods look like this:
Edible plant parts
Leaves, young shoots and flowers of the Zaunwicke are suitable for human consumption. The flowers can be collected throughout the growing season. Shoots and leaves should be harvested as young as possible.
The seeds, on the other hand, are slightly toxic and therefore can not be consumed.
How does the fence vetch taste?
The crisp, juicy shoot tips are reminiscent of young peas. The flowers have a lot of nectar and taste pleasantly slightly sour-sweet. They are a delicious addition to salads, which they also give an interesting touch visually by their pretty coloring.
Tips
You can plant the fencing specifically in your own garden. Seed the seeds along a fence. The plant thrives on almost any surface without problems and spreads in the following years by itself.