The brightly-coloured petals of tuberous begonias aren’t solely lovely, however edible too. Massively standard again within the reign of Queen Victoria, the usage of edible flowers is as soon as once more on the rise. Including a contact of class to any dish, edible petals additionally lend a refined and distinctive flavour to meals and drinks. Right here’s extra details about utilizing begonias in your kitchen, in addition to your backyard.
Browse our full vary of begonia crops for inspiration or decide up begonia tubers for good worth color.
Are all begonias edible?
The flowers of tuberous begonias (Begonia x tuberhybrida) and wax begonias (B. x semperflorens-cultorum) are edible. These fairly petals have a barely bitter citrus flavour and a lightweight, crisp texture. Use the blossoms to brighten up salads and sandwiches or embellish muffins and bakes. Alternatively, use the petals to garnish summer season cocktails or freeze into ice cubes for a vivid flash of color in chilly drinks.
Tuberous begonias even have edible stems and leaves. The stems might be eaten in the identical method as rhubarb, and the snipped leaves lend an fascinating twist to salad.
A phrase of warning. Like many leafy inexperienced greens, begonia flowers and stems include the natural compound oxalic acid and are finest averted by victims of gout, kidney stones and rheumatism. Anybody who suffers from pollen allergic reactions may additionally want to keep away from consuming edible flowers altogether.
Unsure in case your flower is edible? If doubtful – don’t eat it.
The right way to harvest and put together edible flowers
- Choose your edible blooms early within the morning when the water content material is excessive
- Give them a shake to dislodge any soil and bugs
- Fastidiously separate and wash the petals in a bowl of water
- Depart them to dry on a clear tea towel
- Edible flowers style finest when picked and eaten on the identical day
Tuberous begonias within the backyard
In fact, when you don’t fancy munching on begonias you’ll be able to nonetheless take pleasure in them in your backyard. Tuberous begonias are tender perennials, and the mainstay of many summer season shows. Obtainable in a variety of colors, they flower from early summer season till the primary frosts. Merely select the shape that you just want – upright, trailing, single-flowered, double-flowered, picotee, frilly-edged, and extra.
One of many largest tuberous begonias is ‘Prima Donna‘ with huge frilled blooms on compact upright stems.
For a cascading selection you gained’t go fallacious with ‘Apricot Shades’ or Begonia ‘Funky Pink’. And for a placing, ruffled picotee, attempt ‘Large Picotee Blush’.
So, whether or not you intend to eat your begonias or want simply to feast along with your eyes, order your tubers in loads of time to take pleasure in an extended season of blooms. On the lookout for rising, overwintering and selection ideas? Learn our skilled recommendation on tips on how to develop begonias.
Picture: Begonia x tuberhybrida ‘Double Flowered Combined’ from Suttons
