Even if I never harvest spruce tips I’m fascinated to know it can be done. Thank you for the fresh perspective this morning. I always enjoy the read and learn something new each time .
Woman, I am seriously jealous of your almost summer weather!! Ours has been horrendously summer since May, as in 90's to 100's already and more on the way. I really hate hot weather when I have to get out in it, and humidity. I live in Oklahoma, btw. Yes, we need the hot for plants etc, but I'm still allowed to hate it. lol! I sunburn immediately so have to cover up outside too, worse yet.
Fantastic! As I have seen, we don't have Black Locust Flowers in west coastal, lower mainland Canada, but it does give me great insight into other plants I can be on the look out for! Thanks for the great post!
My kids and I noticed something interesting about spruce tips: each tree tastes a bit different. You can find your favourite before harvesting more from a tastier tree. Also, if you leave the terminal tip, it's easier on the tree and won't change the shape of the tree as much (harvest tips on the sides of branches). Thanks for the post Ashley - we love the timely, seasonal encouragement.
That's so true! It's that way with a lot of wild fruit, like autumn olives and crabapples, each tree has fruit that tastes a bit different. You don't think about it with the leaves though, but it's still just as true. Each spruce tree has tips that taste just a little bit different.
Nope, they can't be dry canned. They're also not great dehydrated, basically they just turn brown and lose all their flavor that way.
They do, however, freeze really well and maintain both their flavor and nutrition. Use them frozen to make tea/jelly/whatever by just taking them straight from the freezer and putting them to work.
(When defrosted, they won't be nearly as pretty as they were fresh, but the flavor and nutrition is still there so it's really just an aesthetic thing. Other methods of preserving them just don't work, and you end up with just a pile of dry brown/orange spruce needles.)
Yup, they will keep sending up sprouts pretty much forever, but some trees are more aggressive about it than others. Sounds like yours are in the heavy runner catigory, so you'll have that if your garden is there.
Crazy about the fence posts sprouting like that! I haven't used them for fence posts (yet) but I totally believe it. They're incredibly vigorous, but after weeks sitting out I would have assumed they'd be dead...good to know!
Even if I never harvest spruce tips I’m fascinated to know it can be done. Thank you for the fresh perspective this morning. I always enjoy the read and learn something new each time .
I'm so glad you enjoyed it =)
Woman, I am seriously jealous of your almost summer weather!! Ours has been horrendously summer since May, as in 90's to 100's already and more on the way. I really hate hot weather when I have to get out in it, and humidity. I live in Oklahoma, btw. Yes, we need the hot for plants etc, but I'm still allowed to hate it. lol! I sunburn immediately so have to cover up outside too, worse yet.
Fantastic! As I have seen, we don't have Black Locust Flowers in west coastal, lower mainland Canada, but it does give me great insight into other plants I can be on the look out for! Thanks for the great post!
You're so welcome Amanda, I'm glad it's helpful to you!
You make living in this world, just amazing. I like to read your articles. They are so down to earth, literaly!! Thanks for showing us....
Thank you Millie!
I have a ton of black locust trees. I can not wait until next year and I try the jam and tea. Thank You :)
Wonderful! (Do check out Forager Chef's recipes too that are linked in there, they do make wonderful savory dishes too).
My kids and I noticed something interesting about spruce tips: each tree tastes a bit different. You can find your favourite before harvesting more from a tastier tree. Also, if you leave the terminal tip, it's easier on the tree and won't change the shape of the tree as much (harvest tips on the sides of branches). Thanks for the post Ashley - we love the timely, seasonal encouragement.
That's so true! It's that way with a lot of wild fruit, like autumn olives and crabapples, each tree has fruit that tastes a bit different. You don't think about it with the leaves though, but it's still just as true. Each spruce tree has tips that taste just a little bit different.
Spruce tips are new to me but interesting, can they be dry canned?
Nope, they can't be dry canned. They're also not great dehydrated, basically they just turn brown and lose all their flavor that way.
They do, however, freeze really well and maintain both their flavor and nutrition. Use them frozen to make tea/jelly/whatever by just taking them straight from the freezer and putting them to work.
(When defrosted, they won't be nearly as pretty as they were fresh, but the flavor and nutrition is still there so it's really just an aesthetic thing. Other methods of preserving them just don't work, and you end up with just a pile of dry brown/orange spruce needles.)
Thanks
Yup, they will keep sending up sprouts pretty much forever, but some trees are more aggressive about it than others. Sounds like yours are in the heavy runner catigory, so you'll have that if your garden is there.
Crazy about the fence posts sprouting like that! I haven't used them for fence posts (yet) but I totally believe it. They're incredibly vigorous, but after weeks sitting out I would have assumed they'd be dead...good to know!