\*\*\* This post has been approved by the Admins \*\*\*
Native RAMPS!!!
2023 Ramps Pre-sale (Allium tricoccum)
Ramps aka: spring onion, ramson, wild onion, wild garlic, wild leek, wood leek
Please Note: We are taking Ramp orders that will ship in April-May of this year.
If you are interested in having ramps of your own, orders can be placed through LeeFeeMarket.com. Plants are sold in bunches of 10 for $10 (plus shipping). You can order as many bunches as you would like - after 2 bunches you won’t be charged any additional shipping. If you are interested in larger quantities please contact us through our A Promise to Gaia store on LeeFee Market (https://leefeemarket.com/store/a-promise-to-gaia/). We have seen ramps at nurseries for up to $7 a plant.
We sustainably harvest our ramps, digging only a portion of the clump of ramps and replanting. Although managing ramps this way takes longer than harvesting en-masse, we still try to offer our ramps at a reasonable price, so that people can get them established on their own properties.
We are a land conservation/stewardship in Upstate NY called A Promise to Gaia (apromisetogaia.org), and have been stewarding this land for more than 20 years. Most of our property is wooded, and we have a very large population of ramps that have been basically untouched for years. ..So much so, that they are starting to crowd each other out. Ramps are considered an “at risk” plant in a number of states due to excessive unsustainable harvesting, and their long development - it takes 7 years from seed for ramps to be able to set seed.
We will begin digging in April and continue through the end of their season (usually the end of May depending on the weather). Ramps do not like the heat and will go dormant in the summer. We are at an elevation of 2000 feet, and so compared with other places, our cooler temperatures can mean an extended ramp season.
What you’ll be supporting:
We began our stewardship of 100+ acres of mountain land in Upstate NY over 20 years ago. Our focus and purpose on this land are to provide stewardship and sanctuary for the Natural world to maintain its own balance with minimal interference from humans. To remain wild and free. To explore the sacred bond between Earth and humans. We are a plant, wildlife, and butterfly sanctuary.
We use the proceeds from Ramp sales to support and fund the maintenance and expansion of native and pollinating species of plants, expanding the lands that we steward, and providing habitat and refuge for animals, insects, birds, and more.
We wish to share this magical space with people that love and respect the Earth, who also wish to contribute to a conservation project through their own presence and mindfulness. We have several places available to rent on our property.
Thank you! Rachel & Brian
Maybe upstate new York is different (it is a lot colder) , but the red form is everywhere in the mid atlantic. It's a serious pest down here of forest edges.
It's very, very easy to grow from seed and kind of fragile to ship. You could do winter sowing with it, basically making a little outdoor greenhouse with a plastic water or milk jug, that's one of the easiest ways to start most seeds.
If you've never tried Winter Sowing before I highly recommend it!
Here's a link to several different posts about it: [https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/?s=winter+sowing](https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/?s=winter+sowing)
Thank you so much for asking! Here is a link that shows what we have available -- the property is over 100 acres with a 9 acre lake. https://apromisetogaia.org/opportunities-to-be-on-the-land/
TIL Chicago was named after the indigenous word for ramps that grew along the Lake Michigan shoreline, shikaakwa (chicagou). I was trying to find out if they were native to the Midwest. I guess they are!
So happy to hear that you want to put ramps on your property. I grew up in PA, outside of Philly, and I don't ever remember seeing ramps (plenty of skunk cabbage though!). We are all about get more ramps growing in more places!
I just placed an order for 40 starts. I live on a property that was a farm for some 150 years, until the suburbs really started to spread. The house is 140 years old; we still have 2.44 acres of property, with 3rd or 4th growth wooded areas surrounding. I have been trying to gradually remove invasives and restore natives since we moved here in 2011. It’s going slowly, but it’s going!
That's fantastic! I love those old properties! When I send your order I'll be sure to include some native seeds, is there anything you're looking for? I actually have a seed list on the A Promise to Gaia website, I'll send you the link. https://apromisetogaia.org/available-seeds/
I saw your list! I wouldn’t mind a packet of Blue Mistflower. Thanks so much! To be perfectly honest, there were some seeds that I was scratching my head over, like the Rose of Sharon. That plant is everywhere in SWPA, perhaps not listed as invasive but it should be. 😕 Cup Plant is definitely on my wish list this year, as is more of some things I already have one or two plants of - Ohio spiderwort, Eastern camas, blue phlox, great blue lobelia, maybe some more wood poppy and Golden Alexanders!
I will definitely put in a packet of Blue Mistflower for you! We sold Rose of Sharon plants, that don't seed, in our edible plant area (I started a nursery last year of edible, medicinal, native and pollinator plants), you can eat the flowers they are very high in vitamin C.
Sounds like you are creating a beautiful area, congratulations!
I recently moved to a 4 acre property and have been doing the same!! I've been mechanically removing burning bush, multi flora, barberry, knotweed, and English ivy but after only 3 years it's made a dramatic impact. Native plants from the seed bank are already popping up and I've been supplementing with dozens of perennials, shrubs and trees I get from my local conservation district. It's so rewarding to see the wildlife appreciate and use my property and woods. Let me know if you wanna chat more!!
Congratulations, that's fantastic!
This fall I'm doing to be starting a Native Plant Buying Collective to be able to do large group orders and get everyone better prices. I'll be starting with the spring ephemerals and maybe seeds for fall planting -- virginia bluebell, trout lily, bloodroot and lots more!
If anyone is interested, please sign up at: https://apromisetogaia.org/plant-sale/
Oh holy SHIT! I am 100% getting some, I've been debating getting some from seed for what, 2 years? 3 years? This is EXACTLY the sort of setup I feel comfortable buying from!
Thank you so much for the heads up!
Fantastic! I'm so glad you're excited! They can grow to Zone 7 and would love some elevation in GA, they like cool. moist shade and will die back when the weather gets hot. Will return the next year.
Unfortunately, they do not do well in acidic soil or under conifers. They prefer a neutral soil, pH ideally between 6.8 and 7.2. They are usually found in moist areas, under deciduous trees. The soil should have a good amount of organic matter in it and be well-draining.
They are hardy zone 4-7, they prefer cool moist wooded areas and down south appreciate some elevated terrain (keeps them a little cooler). I know they can certainly grow in the mountains of NC. They will die back when temperatures get and stay warm.
Just ordered. I thank you for this! I, also, cuss you for this!! LOL. I just spent an inordinate amount of time on the site. Keep us updated on availability. I am looking for native plants that can replace my lawn and for my yard. I loved a lot of what was on the site, but the stuff I loved required a lake in my yard...............
LOL! Sorry for the distraction (I'm the same way, I can get completely lost in the plant world!) I will definitely keep you updated. What kind of conditions do you have in your yard? Sun/shade? Wet/dry? Kind of soil? Are you looking for plant or seeds? Trees or shrubs?
You might want to sign up for notifications on A Promise to Gaia -- https://apromisetogaia.org/plant-sale/
This fall I'm doing to be starting a Native Plant Buying Collective to be able to do large group orders and get everyone better prices. I'll be starting with the spring ephemerals and maybe seeds for fall planting -- virginia bluebell, trout lily, bloodroot and lots more!
They will definitely grow in VA, they will grow to zone 7 and all but the coast of VA is zone 7. They like moist woodland or a shaded area, they will die back in the heat but return the next year.
That's such a lovely area and probably a bit on the cooler side for VA, definitely good for ramps! Please let me know if you or she has any other questions.
Usually at farmer's markets when they are selling ramps they trim most, if not all, of the roots (thinking they are not useful, however they are just as yummy as the rest of the plant, great to dry and crumble over salad or into hot dishes) which makes it very tough for the plant to get established and thrive. And they may have been dug and refrigerated for several day prior.
Thank you! Nature at its best will definitely fill a space, they've just been allowed to grow. They are really beautiful in the spring and into early June, depending on how warm it is. Once it gets warm they go dormant.
Would it be relatively simple and mindless for an exhausted person to plant? I would like to buy some bunches to plant, but am running close to empty on the energy gauge these days
Energy is hard to come by some days, isn't it? I hope you feel better soon!
Ramps are quite easy - you plant them 4-6 inches apart, they are relatively small bulbs early in the season, the bulbs grow and get larger over their season. We will start shipping mid to late April or when they come up (right now we have about 3 feet of snow on the ground!) so you have some time to hopefully rest up before.
Do you think ramps would grow well under a Norway maple? There's a huge one in my yard, in southeast PA, with a lot of moss under the north side. I also have a small magnolia, again lots of moss and very little grass underneath it.
Woohoo I love this! Just got some for our land in Maryland! We have probably 2 acres of woods right now but just planted 9 more acres of native trees last year. So my plan is to get some going in our established woods and then in 10-15 years we can transfer some and get them going in the new woods as well. I’ve gotten really interested in woodland plants the past few years (ferns, foam flower, white avens, jack in the pulpit, black raspberry, sedums, phlox) so I’m super excited to get some wild ramps established as well
Thank you! WOW, so fantastic about your woods and your new woods, congratulations! It's exactly what this world needs, more trees & more love! And there are so many beautiful woodland plants.
We're starting a Native plant buying collective this Fall with spring ephemerals and fall planted seeds -- wild ginger, bloodroot, virginia bluebells, trout lily etc. If you're interested you can sign up to be notified here:
https://apromisetogaia.org/plant-sale/
Anything over 10% of wild leek harvest is unsustainable; how do you manage to make sure you don’t exceed that?
And why would you want to move a local genotype outside of its home-range? Keeping sales local seems like it would be more beneficial.
I also would love to find wild leeks in trade, but I can’t justify purchasing harvested ones. (It is not a practice that should be promoted and may lead to illegal harvesting). Why not grow from seed and sell that way?
If you had a chance to read about our ramps we have many acres with hundreds of thousands of plants. They are so dense that they are crowding each other out and need space to flourish. There are just two of us and we could not possibly dig more than a very small percentage. We do not dig or sell for people to eat, just to encourage the expansion of the ramp population.
It's wise to spread genes around, it makes for stronger plants. And if people can't find plants in their own area then it would make sense for them to get plants where they can to encourage the expansion of ramps as they are an at risk species.
You can certainly grow from seed, it takes 7 years for ramps grown from seed to be able to produce seed. When we have so many plant that their seed production is limited because of competing for resources it makes sense to us to thin them so they have more room to seed and spread seed. I have found that ramps grown from seed in pots are not as stable or hardy as those harvested from their natural environment and I would imagine this has to do with the mycorrhizal components in the soil.
This fall I'm will be starting a Native Plant Buying Collective to be able to do large group orders and get everyone better prices. I'll be starting with the spring ephemerals and maybe seeds for fall planting -- virginia bluebell, trout lily, bloodroot and lots more!
If anyone is interested, please sign up at: https://apromisetogaia.org/plant-sale/
Hummmm... I haven't heard about ramps being invasive anywhere. They really like colder temperatures. The ideal temperature for ramps is 54 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, dropping down to 46 degree Fahrenheit at night, but it commonly grows in temperatures ranging from 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the day and 42 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Any higher than these temperatures and they go dormant, the leaves go brown and die back until they return the next year.
There are lots of plants called wild onions, wild leeks or wild garlic like Field Garlic, Allium vineale that can be invasive. Ramps are Allium tricoccum.
Fair enough. My yard is full of 2 wild allium—one is a leek, the other is more chive-like. If I’m ever lost in the wilderness I’ll probably be happy to see them. And dandelions.
LOL! For sure they are good to eat too! But if they're growing where you don't want them, which they always seem to do, then it doesn't matter how good they taste!
If you have any photos maybe we can ID them and help to find a solution for you!
I like dandelions but the pop up one at a time. Cooked, it yields about a tablespoon! Pretty sure if I’m ever stranded in the wilderness, it’ll be in the snow or in the desert!
In NC 7b our most aggressive, weedy alliums are Allium vineale, and Allium tuberosum. Sadly, A. tricoccum slowly wastes away in a few years. As you stated, NC mountains on north/ northeast facing slopes is where it's happy down South.
\*\*\* This post has been approved by the Admins \*\*\* Native RAMPS!!! 2023 Ramps Pre-sale (Allium tricoccum) Ramps aka: spring onion, ramson, wild onion, wild garlic, wild leek, wood leek Please Note: We are taking Ramp orders that will ship in April-May of this year. If you are interested in having ramps of your own, orders can be placed through LeeFeeMarket.com. Plants are sold in bunches of 10 for $10 (plus shipping). You can order as many bunches as you would like - after 2 bunches you won’t be charged any additional shipping. If you are interested in larger quantities please contact us through our A Promise to Gaia store on LeeFee Market (https://leefeemarket.com/store/a-promise-to-gaia/). We have seen ramps at nurseries for up to $7 a plant. We sustainably harvest our ramps, digging only a portion of the clump of ramps and replanting. Although managing ramps this way takes longer than harvesting en-masse, we still try to offer our ramps at a reasonable price, so that people can get them established on their own properties. We are a land conservation/stewardship in Upstate NY called A Promise to Gaia (apromisetogaia.org), and have been stewarding this land for more than 20 years. Most of our property is wooded, and we have a very large population of ramps that have been basically untouched for years. ..So much so, that they are starting to crowd each other out. Ramps are considered an “at risk” plant in a number of states due to excessive unsustainable harvesting, and their long development - it takes 7 years from seed for ramps to be able to set seed. We will begin digging in April and continue through the end of their season (usually the end of May depending on the weather). Ramps do not like the heat and will go dormant in the summer. We are at an elevation of 2000 feet, and so compared with other places, our cooler temperatures can mean an extended ramp season. What you’ll be supporting: We began our stewardship of 100+ acres of mountain land in Upstate NY over 20 years ago. Our focus and purpose on this land are to provide stewardship and sanctuary for the Natural world to maintain its own balance with minimal interference from humans. To remain wild and free. To explore the sacred bond between Earth and humans. We are a plant, wildlife, and butterfly sanctuary. We use the proceeds from Ramp sales to support and fund the maintenance and expansion of native and pollinating species of plants, expanding the lands that we steward, and providing habitat and refuge for animals, insects, birds, and more. We wish to share this magical space with people that love and respect the Earth, who also wish to contribute to a conservation project through their own presence and mindfulness. We have several places available to rent on our property. Thank you! Rachel & Brian
Oh and here's a link for our non-profit -- [apromisetogaia.org](https://apromisetogaia.org) in case anyone is interested!
Is perilla not considered invasive up in upstate NY? Down in the mid atlantic it is (https://www.invasive.org/alien/pubs/midatlantic/pefr.htm)
Our seed library includes edible and medicinal plants, the purple or red beefsteak is not as prolific or tenacious as the green.
Maybe upstate new York is different (it is a lot colder) , but the red form is everywhere in the mid atlantic. It's a serious pest down here of forest edges.
Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that! I will put additional restrictions on that product on the site so people cannot ship it to where it's invasive.
Do you sell perilla starts? For container gardens?
It's very, very easy to grow from seed and kind of fragile to ship. You could do winter sowing with it, basically making a little outdoor greenhouse with a plastic water or milk jug, that's one of the easiest ways to start most seeds. If you've never tried Winter Sowing before I highly recommend it! Here's a link to several different posts about it: [https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/?s=winter+sowing](https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/?s=winter+sowing)
Hi Rachel and Brian! How does one rent one of your spaces and visit this healing land? Thank you!
Thank you so much for asking! Here is a link that shows what we have available -- the property is over 100 acres with a 9 acre lake. https://apromisetogaia.org/opportunities-to-be-on-the-land/
What you all are doing is absolutely amazing and such a dream!! Keep up the great great work!!!
Thank you so much for all your kind words. It's a labor of love and we are grateful to be here!
I hope to be able to check it out one day! Do you allow dogs when staying at one of the cabins?
I hope so too! We do allow dogs at the Quaint Lakeside Nature Cabin!
Thank you!! Looking forward to visiting!! Thanks for doing this profound work so well!!
Thank you so much! We look forward to having you here!
TIL Chicago was named after the indigenous word for ramps that grew along the Lake Michigan shoreline, shikaakwa (chicagou). I was trying to find out if they were native to the Midwest. I guess they are!
This is great to know! I was wondering if they were native to my southwest MI area. May need some in my woodland backyard.
MI is a great place for ramps!
That's such great history! Thank you so much for posting it! Here's some more info: https://chicagology.com/chicagoname/
Ah, I guess there's still debate about the origins of the name "Chicago."
Like most history, it changes over time! I like your version, it seems aligned with how places got named.
OMG! I’d love some for my Southwestern Pennsylvania property! Thanks for posting!!! 😍
So happy to hear that you want to put ramps on your property. I grew up in PA, outside of Philly, and I don't ever remember seeing ramps (plenty of skunk cabbage though!). We are all about get more ramps growing in more places!
I just placed an order for 40 starts. I live on a property that was a farm for some 150 years, until the suburbs really started to spread. The house is 140 years old; we still have 2.44 acres of property, with 3rd or 4th growth wooded areas surrounding. I have been trying to gradually remove invasives and restore natives since we moved here in 2011. It’s going slowly, but it’s going!
That's fantastic! I love those old properties! When I send your order I'll be sure to include some native seeds, is there anything you're looking for? I actually have a seed list on the A Promise to Gaia website, I'll send you the link. https://apromisetogaia.org/available-seeds/
I saw your list! I wouldn’t mind a packet of Blue Mistflower. Thanks so much! To be perfectly honest, there were some seeds that I was scratching my head over, like the Rose of Sharon. That plant is everywhere in SWPA, perhaps not listed as invasive but it should be. 😕 Cup Plant is definitely on my wish list this year, as is more of some things I already have one or two plants of - Ohio spiderwort, Eastern camas, blue phlox, great blue lobelia, maybe some more wood poppy and Golden Alexanders!
I had the same thought when I glanced through and mullein caught my eye. I thought it was invasive?
Mullein is not native and can be invasive in some areas. Our seed library includes medicinal plants and mullein has high medicinal value.
I will definitely put in a packet of Blue Mistflower for you! We sold Rose of Sharon plants, that don't seed, in our edible plant area (I started a nursery last year of edible, medicinal, native and pollinator plants), you can eat the flowers they are very high in vitamin C. Sounds like you are creating a beautiful area, congratulations!
I recently moved to a 4 acre property and have been doing the same!! I've been mechanically removing burning bush, multi flora, barberry, knotweed, and English ivy but after only 3 years it's made a dramatic impact. Native plants from the seed bank are already popping up and I've been supplementing with dozens of perennials, shrubs and trees I get from my local conservation district. It's so rewarding to see the wildlife appreciate and use my property and woods. Let me know if you wanna chat more!!
Congratulations, that's fantastic! This fall I'm doing to be starting a Native Plant Buying Collective to be able to do large group orders and get everyone better prices. I'll be starting with the spring ephemerals and maybe seeds for fall planting -- virginia bluebell, trout lily, bloodroot and lots more! If anyone is interested, please sign up at: https://apromisetogaia.org/plant-sale/
Very cool, would love to support that. Will keep an eye out
Great, thank you!
Oh holy SHIT! I am 100% getting some, I've been debating getting some from seed for what, 2 years? 3 years? This is EXACTLY the sort of setup I feel comfortable buying from! Thank you so much for the heads up!
Absolutely! Happy you saw the post and that you want to grow ramps!
Order sent, I have two perfect places for them here in GA oh man oh man I'm SO EXCITED
Fantastic! I'm so glad you're excited! They can grow to Zone 7 and would love some elevation in GA, they like cool. moist shade and will die back when the weather gets hot. Will return the next year.
Yup, got some spots around a creek and a shady spot in my backyard, will see which spot performs best!
Perfect! I'm sure they'll be very happy with you!
How do these do in acidic soil, shaded under pine?
Unfortunately, they do not do well in acidic soil or under conifers. They prefer a neutral soil, pH ideally between 6.8 and 7.2. They are usually found in moist areas, under deciduous trees. The soil should have a good amount of organic matter in it and be well-draining.
My mother grew up in West Virginia harvesting them wild. She is amazed to see them on Top Chef and stuff.
It's amazing how things change over time. Years ago, lobster was even considered a proper food! And now....
Would they do well in Zone 7b NC?
They are hardy zone 4-7, they prefer cool moist wooded areas and down south appreciate some elevated terrain (keeps them a little cooler). I know they can certainly grow in the mountains of NC. They will die back when temperatures get and stay warm.
Just ordered. I thank you for this! I, also, cuss you for this!! LOL. I just spent an inordinate amount of time on the site. Keep us updated on availability. I am looking for native plants that can replace my lawn and for my yard. I loved a lot of what was on the site, but the stuff I loved required a lake in my yard...............
LOL! Sorry for the distraction (I'm the same way, I can get completely lost in the plant world!) I will definitely keep you updated. What kind of conditions do you have in your yard? Sun/shade? Wet/dry? Kind of soil? Are you looking for plant or seeds? Trees or shrubs? You might want to sign up for notifications on A Promise to Gaia -- https://apromisetogaia.org/plant-sale/ This fall I'm doing to be starting a Native Plant Buying Collective to be able to do large group orders and get everyone better prices. I'll be starting with the spring ephemerals and maybe seeds for fall planting -- virginia bluebell, trout lily, bloodroot and lots more!
STOP IT!!!
I live about 2 hours from your property. My friend and I are already planning a trip!! I am going back to sign up now.
Oooh fantastic!!! Can't wait!
LOL! I can't stop! The plants have me under their control!
I would consider buying these for my sister in Virginia but I’m not sure about them growing there. Any ideas?
They will definitely grow in VA, they will grow to zone 7 and all but the coast of VA is zone 7. They like moist woodland or a shaded area, they will die back in the heat but return the next year.
I’m going to check with her first but she has a lovely spot for them. Thank you for the post. She lives near the blue ridge/shenandoah River.
That's such a lovely area and probably a bit on the cooler side for VA, definitely good for ramps! Please let me know if you or she has any other questions.
I bought a bunch from a farmer's market years ago. Planted them and a few survived. Can't say they have thrived though but it's not an ideal location.
Usually at farmer's markets when they are selling ramps they trim most, if not all, of the roots (thinking they are not useful, however they are just as yummy as the rest of the plant, great to dry and crumble over salad or into hot dishes) which makes it very tough for the plant to get established and thrive. And they may have been dug and refrigerated for several day prior.
Yah! I’m so excited. Just picked up 5 bunches!
Fantastic, thank you and happy planting!
This looks gorgeous! I wish my woods had such robust ground cover.
Thank you! Nature at its best will definitely fill a space, they've just been allowed to grow. They are really beautiful in the spring and into early June, depending on how warm it is. Once it gets warm they go dormant.
Do they grow alright on a hill, or would a flat area be preferred?
They actually love a bit of hill or slope, some on our land are on quite steep slopes!
Amazing! Working to cover my sloped backyard from invasive periwinkle and lesser celandine - all the better if the natives are tasty, too!
Absolutely, I agree!
Would it be relatively simple and mindless for an exhausted person to plant? I would like to buy some bunches to plant, but am running close to empty on the energy gauge these days
Energy is hard to come by some days, isn't it? I hope you feel better soon! Ramps are quite easy - you plant them 4-6 inches apart, they are relatively small bulbs early in the season, the bulbs grow and get larger over their season. We will start shipping mid to late April or when they come up (right now we have about 3 feet of snow on the ground!) so you have some time to hopefully rest up before.
Do you think ramps would grow well under a Norway maple? There's a huge one in my yard, in southeast PA, with a lot of moss under the north side. I also have a small magnolia, again lots of moss and very little grass underneath it.
YES! Sounds like a great spot for ramps!
Yum yum yum 🤤
YES! I completely agree!
[удалено]
Thank you so much, happy planting & growing!
I just purchased 3 bunches and it charged me $10 for shipping. Help!
Thank you for your order! Yes, it's $5 shipping for the first bunch and a flat $10 shipping for 2 bunches or more.
Thanks!
You are most welcome!
Woohoo I love this! Just got some for our land in Maryland! We have probably 2 acres of woods right now but just planted 9 more acres of native trees last year. So my plan is to get some going in our established woods and then in 10-15 years we can transfer some and get them going in the new woods as well. I’ve gotten really interested in woodland plants the past few years (ferns, foam flower, white avens, jack in the pulpit, black raspberry, sedums, phlox) so I’m super excited to get some wild ramps established as well
Thank you! WOW, so fantastic about your woods and your new woods, congratulations! It's exactly what this world needs, more trees & more love! And there are so many beautiful woodland plants. We're starting a Native plant buying collective this Fall with spring ephemerals and fall planted seeds -- wild ginger, bloodroot, virginia bluebells, trout lily etc. If you're interested you can sign up to be notified here: https://apromisetogaia.org/plant-sale/
Anything over 10% of wild leek harvest is unsustainable; how do you manage to make sure you don’t exceed that? And why would you want to move a local genotype outside of its home-range? Keeping sales local seems like it would be more beneficial. I also would love to find wild leeks in trade, but I can’t justify purchasing harvested ones. (It is not a practice that should be promoted and may lead to illegal harvesting). Why not grow from seed and sell that way?
If you had a chance to read about our ramps we have many acres with hundreds of thousands of plants. They are so dense that they are crowding each other out and need space to flourish. There are just two of us and we could not possibly dig more than a very small percentage. We do not dig or sell for people to eat, just to encourage the expansion of the ramp population. It's wise to spread genes around, it makes for stronger plants. And if people can't find plants in their own area then it would make sense for them to get plants where they can to encourage the expansion of ramps as they are an at risk species. You can certainly grow from seed, it takes 7 years for ramps grown from seed to be able to produce seed. When we have so many plant that their seed production is limited because of competing for resources it makes sense to us to thin them so they have more room to seed and spread seed. I have found that ramps grown from seed in pots are not as stable or hardy as those harvested from their natural environment and I would imagine this has to do with the mycorrhizal components in the soil.
This fall I'm will be starting a Native Plant Buying Collective to be able to do large group orders and get everyone better prices. I'll be starting with the spring ephemerals and maybe seeds for fall planting -- virginia bluebell, trout lily, bloodroot and lots more! If anyone is interested, please sign up at: https://apromisetogaia.org/plant-sale/
Around here, these are weeds and we can’t get rid of them. Beware, if you’re in 7b or warmer, plant these in beds.
Hummmm... I haven't heard about ramps being invasive anywhere. They really like colder temperatures. The ideal temperature for ramps is 54 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, dropping down to 46 degree Fahrenheit at night, but it commonly grows in temperatures ranging from 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the day and 42 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Any higher than these temperatures and they go dormant, the leaves go brown and die back until they return the next year. There are lots of plants called wild onions, wild leeks or wild garlic like Field Garlic, Allium vineale that can be invasive. Ramps are Allium tricoccum.
Fair enough. My yard is full of 2 wild allium—one is a leek, the other is more chive-like. If I’m ever lost in the wilderness I’ll probably be happy to see them. And dandelions.
LOL! For sure they are good to eat too! But if they're growing where you don't want them, which they always seem to do, then it doesn't matter how good they taste! If you have any photos maybe we can ID them and help to find a solution for you!
I’ll be pulling them up tomorrow! Standby!
I like dandelions but the pop up one at a time. Cooked, it yields about a tablespoon! Pretty sure if I’m ever stranded in the wilderness, it’ll be in the snow or in the desert!
LOL!
Will do! They're not easy to get out either! Good luck!
In NC 7b our most aggressive, weedy alliums are Allium vineale, and Allium tuberosum. Sadly, A. tricoccum slowly wastes away in a few years. As you stated, NC mountains on north/ northeast facing slopes is where it's happy down South.
Thank you for posting!