Before you start to enjoy your floral feast, please be aware of the following:-
Eating edible flowers
The following precautions should always be taken when eating edible flowers:-
Only eat flowers which are free from pesticides and pollutants
- Only eat flowers which you have grown yourself, to be sure they are free from pesticides or pollutants. Do not eat flowers from the garden centre or those which you find on the side of the road, as you cannot be sure they are free from pollutants or chemicals. If you must use pesticides then use those suitable for edible crops. However, we prefer to promote growing without the use of pesticides.
Only eat healthy looking plants
- If the plants look like they have become diseased, i.e. have blackened, or have fungus or spots on them, then do not eat them.
Know what you are growing and eating
- The Edible Flower Shop has been careful to only select flowers for sale which are known to be edible. We are careful to ensure that the seeds we sell are those which are marked on the packet. To make sure that you only pick edible flowers in your garden, please ensure you label them when planting them out.
Consider your existing health
- Like any foods or drinks, we cannot guarantee that no adverse reaction will be had after handling or eating edible flowers. If you know that you have underlying health conditions or allergies, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or taking any medication then we recommend that you consult a medical professional before eating any new foods. We suggest that you consume the flowers with caution the first time to ensure that no adverse reaction is had. Like many foods, edible flowers should be eaten in moderation.
How to eat the flowers
- The simplest ways to use edible flowers are in salads or as a garnish on the side of the plate. However, if you like cooking, or wish to experiment a little, then we have provided you with some simple ideas in our accompanying leaflet.
- Eat only the petals unless our leaflet informs you otherwise.
- Unless we tell you otherwise in the leaflet, remove the pistils, stamens and green sepal from flowers before eating.
- Check for insects before eating, they love edible flowers too!
Growing edible flowers
Seed Storage
- All seeds should be kept in a cool, dry, dark environment and planted within one year of purchase.
Planting Guide
- Every packet of seeds is sent with a detailed planting guide. Please read these carefully because many seeds require specific conditions to germinate, grow and then produce flowers
- Some seeds need more careful planting than others and may call for some patience whilst germinating, with some requiring a period of cold before germination can take place. The leaflets accompanying these seeds include details of the conditions required and the likely timescales.
- Please be aware that all timescales given are guidelines only. These will vary depending on individual conditions. Local climates must be considered when planting out your seeds, southern areas may be warmer and more suitable for planting earlier than northern counties, or more sheltered locations may all for earlier success when sowing seeds.
- Poor germination may result from the following a wide range of problems including underwatering, overwatering, poor soil conditions, incorrect temperatures, pests or disease. Likewise, the failure to thrive or produce flowers could be due to a large number of factors such as those already listed. Please read the instructions carefully.