Most edible wild plants don’t stand deep in the forest but at the path’s edge, in the meadow and in your own garden. The best way in is through a few very common species that you then really know.
Stinging nettle, from March to October. Practically everywhere, hard to mistake, and unambiguous even for beginners thanks to the sting.
Dandelion, from March to May for the leaves. The rosette is unmistakable, the milky sap an extra feature. Later in the year the leaves turn much more bitter.
Ground elder, from April to June. A triangular leaf stalk in cross-section and a three-part leaf: a good feature to practise on.
Chickweed, almost year-round. The single line of hairs along the stem is the decisive detail.
Right beside busy roads, on fertilised or sprayed land, along dog-walking paths and on industrial wasteland.
In nature reserves and national parks, removal is banned outright. On private land you need the owner’s permission.
Only pick what you can identify one hundred percent, and only so much that the stand doesn’t notice. A rule of thumb is to take at most a third of a stand and always leave enough for animals and for the plant to spread.
The family holds both widespread kitchen plants and hemlock, one of the most poisonous plants in Europe. For beginners, the family with the worst ratio of reward to risk.
Very toxic; regularly mistaken for wild garlic in spring, and in the meadow for the young leaves of other species.
No text and no app replaces identification on the spot. This page helps you search and understand the season. What ends up in the basket is your decision: when in doubt, not at all, or only after checking with a knowledgeable person.
Stinging nettle, dandelion, ground elder and chickweed: all four are very common, well described and have clear features. More important than the number of species is knowing a few really well.
In the wild, the hand-bouquet rule allows small amounts for personal use. Not allowed: foraging in nature reserves, in national parks, of protected species, and on private land without permission.
You can’t, at least not by eye. So you go by the location: distance from roads, fields, dog paths and contaminated sites.
Forage shows you the species in your region and pings you when the season starts.
This text is orientation on season and habitat, not an identification guide. It makes no claim about whether any specific plant or mushroom is edible. Many species have toxic look-alikes. Never eat anything you haven’t identified beyond doubt yourself, and when in doubt consult a field guide or a knowledgeable person. Mind conservation law and property rights.
