I planted some ramp roots I bought at the farmers market last year, and now they seem to be thriving! I'm in Zone 6A, just north of Chicago, where there are a lot of old trees. I read that ramps typically take several years to establish, so this quick growth has me wondering—is it possible that my ramps have set in so fast? I don't have any pictures, but the plants have two leaves with a bright red center vein. The trillium aren't up yet, nor are the lilies of the valley. What else could they be, and is there a safe way to check if they're edible?
2 Answers
From what I’ve seen, a lot of folks experience similar results. We planted 72 ramp roots around Rogers Park, and only about 8 came up after the first winter. It's all about how well they're established!
It sounds like you might be on the right track! Your ramps could definitely be edible, but if you want them to keep coming back each year, try not to harvest too much this season. Let them establish well before you start picking!
Thanks for the info! I'm usually terrible at growing plants, so seeing this growth is surprising.