Ramps (Wild Leeks/Onions)

[Earthmom]

Here's a little blurb I found about the rate of regrowth for ramps. It's NOT good. So if you dig up 90% of them it takes over 100 years for them to replenish! Basically, don't dig them up from the same place to sell them or you're kind of a selfish jerk... I hope that's okay to say on here since it's not aimed at any one person. Just delete that part if you don't like it DD.

[ec rob]

I found some white ones like that growing right next to the red ones. I was just figuring they were a little under nourished as they were right at the base of a tree. Hopefully they are the same thing.

[blitzfish]

Did they still have that "onion" like smell to them? if not don't eat those...

[Earthmom]

Oh yeah, they do have the smell and they look exactly the same except for the red, and the size is a bit smaller. I ate them too and they are great but I certainly would like to know what it is technically...

[Earthmom]

Okay, update...so I've been researching this mystery leek and it is definitely in the Allium family of wild onions/leeks/garlic. I think it's technically called Allium ursinum aka RAMSONS & BEAR LEEK. I won't know for certain until later in the spring because unlike ramps, these should blossom white flowers while it still has leaves. If the leaves die off before it blooms then I have no clue (yet) what they are but rest assured, they smell and taste great!

[Earthmom]

Well I checked with one of my FB foraging groups and these are a variation of the allium tricoccum (the usual ramps) - var burdickii. Here's a link:
www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/wild-leek

I don't think they have an actual name other than a variation of "ramp". They're ramps! Cool right?

[ec rob]

good to know! The white ones i found did have a couple of dried up ramp flowers from last year in the clump i picked, kinda figured they had to be closely related if not the same thing. I guess I'll have them for breakfast today, thanks!

[blitzfish]

Nice find Earthmom! They look quite a bit different from normal ramps though...

[ec rob]

i did notice that they only have two leaves, where as the red ones have three. but they do taste just as good.

[blitzfish]

Those pictures show that there are 3 leaves on the variation like the normal ones. The differences I see are the lack of red obviously, the leaves are thinner, and the leaves have a more defined ridge.

[Trapperhub]

Is there a special way to dry ramps/leeks out for future use in soups or other recipes? I have a woods that is full of them and pick few every time I go but just enough to eat right away.

[blitzfish]

I have dehydrated them with a dehydrator and used them later.

[marinetteco]

Got rained out of work in milwaukee Monday morning and took a walk to look for morels. No morels, but plenty of leeks. I didn't pick any a the garbage in the woods was disgusting. Definitely would have left any morels lay also. So sad Also saw some pheasant backs.Dito.

[deerslayer]

I did a 5 mile trail run last Sunday morning- my reward for getting up early for torture was spotting a nice patch of ramps a little off the trail. It made lunch a winner as well!