I had already been thinking about your posts from last spring as my hosta came in for three weeks. I suppose mine are too old now? How do you harvest them? Do you slice off a section with a shovel so the clump survives for later decoration and next year's harvest, or do you take the whole thing, or somehow just cut tops??

That looks so-o-oo-oo good!
Now my tummy is growling,
And I'll have to eat my lunch early!

Sure wish Host's (and/or asparagus) would grow here!

Rusty

Chas - looks like Dc snipped those hostas at the base and left the crown - for next year's crop of course! :-)

Didn't know hosta shoots were edible. Your meal looks wonderful!

No hostas here, but I can get some pork loin! Looks fabulous.

We're too sunny and hot for hostas, but I sure do enjoy seeing your photos of them-as-food, Archie!

Smiles,
Sooz

Thanks everyone.

It is so satisfying to have fresh just-picked delicious greens so early in the spring with no work to grow them. It also makes cooking interesting with unusual ingredients.

Chas045, as Teresa said, the shoots are cut close to the roots, but not the roots. Interesting, the more you cut the more will grow for next year.

dcarch

I remembered your post from last spring as well. So glad I could assure my horrified DH and a neighbor that hosta are edible and Bailey, one of our Golden Retrievers would be just fine.
Not so much the hosta! ( a little sour apple spray saved the rest)

This post was edited by cooperbailey on Sun, Apr 28, 13 at 10:25

Cooperbailey, Hosta is enjoyed by many animals and insects, but early in the spring there are no insects.

Hosta gets very tough when the leaves mature. However, the flowers are edible.

dcarch.

I've been thinking of you, Dcarch, as the Hostas have been emerging here this spring. I don't have any here in Texas, but my OK house has some. I haven't harvested any yet. Maybe once we finally move up there I'll do so. Nice pics.

Sally

Gorgeous pics ! My hosta are all up and I forgot your post from last year. I have to wrap my head around the idea that they are edible :) Will see what happens when DH stir frys some. Thanks for posting . c

Sally, Trailrunner, as I said, hosta is used as a vegetable in Japan.

You can Google this for recipes: (LOL !)
ã®ãÂÂã¦ã· é£Â

Stir fry hosta is delicious and easy.

dcarch

Here is a link that might be useful: Check out the video

I didn't know they were edible, either. Now I want some. There's a hosta in the yard at work....it's pretty big now, but I gotta see if there are any shoots. All I have for spring greens are little bitty lettuce, kale, chard and a few bunching onions that made it through winter.

Yes, I knew you liked to eat them, Dcarch, that's why I thought of you as I watched them emerge. I don't have enough up in Oklahoma to make a serving, much less part of a meal, and the only ones I see here in Texas are the ones we have for sale at the nursery I work at. I think I'd get in trouble if I harvested those. lol

I did not know, until you mentioned it in your original post, that they are used as vegetables in Japan. I'll have to ask Jerry if he ate any when he was stationed in Okinawa. He really got into the food there.

Sally

My family tried some raw. Not bad but DD said it left an aftertaste for her.

Interesting idea. Thanks for posting it.

dcarch - thank you. I thought I knew everything and I just learned something today. I actually hate hostas in the garden - they end up crowding everything out with their raggy leaves that get eaten by slugs. But I would definitely cut them as shoots had I known I could eat them. My neighbor grows them and I'm checking first thing in the morning. If there is time, I'm cutting hers!

It's a great use for what is otherwise a useless and unattractive plant.

Rosesinny, I must say I love hostas. No issues with slugs and slow spreading. There are different varieties so maybe you need to try a new one (to grow, not eat), lol.

Posted by katiec âÂÂI didn't know they were edible, either. Now I want some. ------------ All I have for spring greens are little bitty lettuce, kale, chard and a few bunching onions that made it through winter.âÂÂ
It makes me happy that there is a delicious vegetable which grows in the deep shade, a perennial requiring no care, and which comes up so early in the spring.

Sally, âÂÂI did not know, until you mentioned it in your original post, that they are used as vegetables in Japan. I'll have to ask Jerry if he ate any when he was stationed in Okinawa. He really got into the food there.âÂÂ

I was in Okinawa once. Interesting place. The people there live the longest.

Posted by debrak_2008 âÂÂMy family tried some raw. Not bad but DD said it left an aftertaste for her.--------âÂÂ

I suppose most vegetable will leave an after taste, if you taste it the first time.

Posted by rosesinny âÂÂ------ I actually hate hostas in the garden ------ with their raggy leaves that get eaten by slugs. ------âÂÂ

Yummy! Hostas with escargot! LOL!

dcarch