Almost time to "Ramp" it up!

[hunt4it]

Was out on a walkabout on a local stream here last night and came across this little gems. Too small to harvest but I have them located and boy...do they smell good. Anyone been seeing any yet this spring?

[nytrapper23]

Starting to pop here too.

[tkfurs]

Been up here for some time, I've a dug a couple batches. I actually prefer them with smallish bulbs. They taste milder with less aftertaste. I love these things!

[trappermick]

Still haven't found any... Ever!!! But I keep looking

[sease]

What are those?

[nytrapper23]

They are ramps , wild onions . Really really good.

[trapnewbie]

Apr 15, 2016 13:30:36 GMT -5 nytrapper23 said:

They are ramps , wild onions . Really really good.

I haven't found anything that looks like ramps here, but I remember as kid growing up in Upstate NY we would find what looked like onions, but tasted more like garlic.  As I recall the 'leaves' weren't flattened but rounded.
I didn't know what they were...still don't but they tasted good to me.

[tkfurs]

Apr 15, 2016 13:30:36 GMT -5 nytrapper23 said:

They are ramps , wild onions . Really really good.

Actually a better comparison would be wild leaks. If you go to the produce section at the grocery store you should find leaks. Ramps taste the same, but a stronger flavor.

[sease]

Thanks. I'm not sure if these grow in SC. I have a lot of wild onions that grow in my yard in the late fall. Hate to cut them with the lawnmower. My eyes burn every time.

[pipewrench]

I found this patch last spring and checked them yesterday, I think I will dig a few next Saturday.

[tkfurs]

I have several very large patches around the property here. I have been thinking of ways to market these locally, so in doing some research I found this.

www.marxfoods.com/fresh-ramps


I'm thinking I could safely harvest 200 lbs a year, maybe a tad less.

So, 200lbs @ $32/lbs = enough money to make it worth a day of digging.

[Brad H.]

200 lbs!?! I'd be happy to have a patch with a plant or two. Yea that kind of money would make it worth the work.

[tkfurs]

Yes Brad, 200 lbs, I have 3 locations that are solid ramps. One bottom area is well over an acre and a half section that is completely covered and the other 2 areas run pretty close to that size. Plus the typical random bunches scattered here and there. With what I've already dug this year and what Cj and john took yesterday its probably already been close to 40-50 lbs and hasn't even put a small dent in one patch.

[Brad H.]

Apr 18, 2016 5:49:11 GMT -5 tkfurs said:

Yes Brad, 200 lbs, I have 3 locations that are solid ramps. One bottom area is well over an acre and a half section that is completely covered and the other 2 areas run pretty close to that size. Plus the typical random bunches scattered here and there. With what I've already dug this year and what Cj and john took yesterday its probably already been close to 40-50 lbs and hasn't even put a small dent in one patch.

Is there a spot where you see them more often than others? Like an area you drive by and say "there has to be ramps there."

[tkfurs]

Not really Brad, they do tend to like hillsides though I believe. Both the hills that hold big patches at my place are east facing but not sure that matters. The other big area is a bottom that does not look anything like the hillside.

[nytrapper23]

I'm hoping to get out tomorrow afternoon and dig some / scout for turkeys.

[Deleted]

How easy are these to transplant, when I find ramps, I'munder the canopy of the trees, they don't seem to like the sun. Would love topost some pics to make sure what I have are ramps/leaks.

As a kid growing up, Grandma said don't mess with bee's and don't eat no wild plants, both of which my education really lacks in. So Swamper's I'll need a hand.

[hunt4it]

Apr 26, 2016 4:48:26 GMT -5 @trapperfromoh said:

How easy are these to transplant, when I find ramps, I'munder the canopy of the trees, they don't seem to like the sun. Would love topost some pics to make sure what I have are ramps/leaks.

As a kid growing up, Grandma said don't mess with bee's and don't eat no wild plants, both of which my education really lacks in. So Swamper's I'll need a hand.

Sog. A friend of mine did that last year and they came up spring. I'll ask him how he prepared the ground and what not and will let you know. 

[tkfurs]

Sog, these are very easy to transplant. The guys here have transplanted at least 100 bunches over the last couple years, and all have done well. They usually will appear to die off after putting them back into the ground, but all have come back come next spring. They will not flower out for a couple years after being transplanted,(at least they didn't notice it) so take from them sparingly or not at all for the first year or two. They do still divide roots, but don't seed out.

The first few batches transplanted were just put into a dug hole and re covered and packed down. This year, Cj tilled up a strip and planted them. Not sure it really matters.

[old243]

I have lots of them, in my hardwood bush. They should be ready in about a week. Are the leaves edible as well as the bulbs. I have just harvested the bulbs usually. Not sure if they might work in soup, or dry ,or freeze. old243

[tkfurs]

Apr 29, 2016 20:42:20 GMT -5 old243 said:

I have lots of them, in my hardwood bush. They should be ready in about a week. Are the leaves edible as well as the bulbs. I have just harvested the bulbs usually. Not sure if they might work in soup, or dry ,or freeze. old243

Yes, the leaves are edible and very good. You can steam them them like spinach. I like the leaves chopped up and added to a tossed salad to add some zip. I would suppose you could add them to soup. I made cheesy potatoe soup with chopped up bulbs and that was delicious.