Those that follow me on the socials will know I’m a bit of a foodie. I’m not into posh food…I’m more into simple well cooked tucker…and custard…(I have managed to get down to a litre a week.) I’m also pretty partial to summer salad, especially if it is kicking around with some hot buttered Jersey Royals. One thing I have discovered on my flowery adventures is that a handful of petals from edible flowers sprinkled into a salad will take said salad into a dimension that it never previously thought possible…the salad will take a quantum leap in the way it views itself. A happier, more confident salad will be hard to find.
In my, almost humble opinion, I think annuals make the best edible flowers. Here’s a list of what to grow this season so that you too can improve the mental wellness of your salad dishes.
*Borage. Borage is not just for Pimms. Blue flowers in a salad is somewhat juddering….which is a good thing…but add some orange to make it really pop. (The young leaves of Borage are great if you cook them like spinach.)
*Nasturtiums. This is the orange you are looking for. It is mildly peppery. The leaves are great too. Watch out for caterpillars…they have a place but that place is not in your cake hole.
*Calendula. Yellow flowers, uber bright and happy. They sing cheerful songs even when slathered in Balsamic vinegar. ‘Art Shades’ and ‘Indian Prince’ are my favs in the kitchen.
*Sunflowers. Big boofy petals, a range of tones and colours. The deep reds are fabulous sprinkled over dark creamy dishes like Mushroom stroganoff…this is the kind of shizzle that gets you on the telly.
*Nigella. (Don’t eat the greenery and don’t eat too many of the flowers either….less is more.) Granny Higgledy (Granny with the brown table….and opposed to Granny with the blue table….which is how I used to differentiate them when I was a nipper.) used to put them on her cakes that she made as her side hustle. Granny with the blue table was the best cake maker in Dewsbury. #fact
*Cornflowers. Dinky petals but a great range of colours and another great blue. I like these sprinkled on my porridge in the morning if I’m feeling like I want to be a bit more Bohemian.
* Malope trifida ‘Vulcan’. If you want some bright magenta in your grub then this is the flower for you. Personally I think it makes your dinner look like an 80s disco but you might want that in your life.
It will be no surprise to you clever people that all of these delights can be found in the Higgledy seed shop of dreams.
If you have any questions, please come and find me on FB, Twitter or Instagram.
Kindest regards
Benjamin Higgledy.
PS. If you are looking for growing tips then chip over to here: Higgledy seed sowing guide.