MCH Posted April 23, 2006 Report Share Posted April 23, 2006 Does anyone in here pick polk salad? It's actually called picking "pokeweed" but down here we call the plant polk salad. Not sure why. My boy and I went with my Uncle this morning polk salad hunting. We picked up about 4 Wal-mart bags full. Took me almost 3 hours to clean, boil, rinse, squeeze and package the stuff. It's some good stuff if you mix it with 3 or 4 scrambled eggs. Hmmmmm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted April 23, 2006 Report Share Posted April 23, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? Sorry man not sure what it is ... but if its food I wouldn't be afraid to try anything once lol .. sounds like you got yourself a meal though... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted April 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? The stuff grows wild around here. You're most likely to find it in 2 year old clearcuts near brushpiles. In July, it bears purple fruit. The birds love it and they eat it like crazy. Then they roost on some old brushpiles and before you know it........more polk salad. They say the stuff is poisonous to humans once they reach full growth. But my family has been eating them since before the depression. You catch them in early to late April before they get over 3 feet and you break the young shoots off at the top of the plant. Wash them off and then boil them until the stalks become mushy. Rinse and shock with cold water. Then you have to squeeze as much of the water out of them as possible, package and freeze. I guess you could call it a "soul food". I can remember stories from my grandma about them eating cornbread and "second time" polk salad every day during the depression. "Second time" polk salad isn't as tender as the April picking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? Got a picture of what it looks like lol .... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
007hunter Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? I have no idea what you talking about, any pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? [ QUOTE ] I have no idea what you talking about, any pics? [/ QUOTE ] Do you have any pics i want to see this stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted April 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? This is what the plants will look like in mid July. I can't find a pick of the younger plants. May take one this weekend when my friend and I go picking. They're all over the place in the southern states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinsonovagun Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? My dad is the only one that eats it. I'll eat just about anything, but this stuff smells like canned spinach, and looks/smells the same. Not sure how anyone can eat it. You'll know when the birds start eating the berries....you'll have red crap on your windshield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted April 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? Ryan, you fry some of it up with 3 eggs and you'll love it. Give it a try.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? [ QUOTE ] They say the stuff is poisonous to humans once they reach full growth. But my family has been eating them since before the depression. [/ QUOTE ] I believe it's the root that's mildly poisonous. If my memory serves me correct, native Americans used it to induce vomiting. And, no, never have eaten the stuff. I kill it everytime I see it because I don't want my kids to eat the berries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinsonovagun Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? Not sure about eggs making it better.....give me some scrambled eggs w/ bacon and wild onions and I'll clean house!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
007hunter Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? OHH, got some of that in the back yard, doubt I'd eat it though. As a kid I used to love knocking that stuff down. Find a nice stick and go to town.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinsonovagun Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? [ QUOTE ] As a kid I used to love knocking that stuff down. Find a nice stick and go to town.... [/ QUOTE ] Yeah...until Mom found those berry stains on your clothes!!!! That crap doesn't come out!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? I found this site: Poke weed raw is mildly poisonous. There's some interesting info on this web page. I guess poke weed is used in the treatment of some cancers. http://altnature.com/gallery/pokeweed.htm Here's a pic of a young shoot I think. According to this page the shoots taste like asparagus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? I havent had any in years but there is tons of it around our place and my grandparents ranch. I noticed some out by my barn just this past weekend... Youve made me hungry now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? I have heard it called pokeberry before. Never dawned on me to eat it. I am awful leery of eating things growing wild, as I just don't know enough about herbology to feel safe doing it. I like the idea of foraging, just lack motivation to learn the vast amount of information. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? [ QUOTE ] According to this page the shoots taste like asparagus. [/ QUOTE ] Thats it! Ill never eat it then!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? Used to have the stuff growing around here around all of the brush piles on the property which I have over time eliminated. Bet there is still some growing around here though. No, I dont eat the stuff, never tried it. The boy that was the caretaker of this property before we bought it, ate it though and claimed it was really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leatherneck Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] According to this page the shoots taste like asparagus. [/ QUOTE ] Thats it! Ill never eat it then!!! [/ QUOTE ] I'm with you....I cant do that junk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSGB Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? [ QUOTE ] Took me almost 3 hours to clean, boil, rinse, squeeze and package the stuff. [/ QUOTE ] That's why I don't eat it that often. But gimme a plate full of fried fish, poke, black eyed peas, and corn bread. Mmmmmmmmm. Pot liquor and corn bread. Mmmmmmmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted April 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? [ QUOTE ] I found this site: Poke weed raw is mildly poisonous. There's some interesting info on this web page. I guess poke weed is used in the treatment of some cancers. http://altnature.com/gallery/pokeweed.htm Here's a pic of a young shoot I think. According to this page the shoots taste like asparagus. [/ QUOTE ] I found that site also but the picture doesn't do the plant down here justice. The pokeweed we have looks like the picture I posted only shorter. Its a lot bushier than the picture above. However, when you see the seeds looking like the one in your pick, then the shoots are already too tough to eat. To me, they taste nothing like asparagus.(only tried once) Its very similar to spinach, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griz Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? Oh yeah... That's some gooooood stuff right there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doughboy1956 Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? Poke Salad True name is Polk Salet, It can be found on local grocery store shelves or growing wild along fence rows or any were else birds congretrate. It can be compared to the taste of spinach. Its dark green color makes it rich in iron and vitamin C. When cooked correctly, boiled, it is very good. However it must be prepared correctly. About 1/2 way through the cooking process, the water must be changed to get rid of the taxic properties I like to go out and get Fiddle head ferns down here. Great eating. Here is a pic. of some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowJoe Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? Heck, we cut down this stugg all the time. I never thought of eating it. Guess I'll have to give it a try real soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Re: Polk(poke) Salad, anyone?? You can eat dandelions also. I think it is really neat to find out all the wild stuff growing around that you can eat. I've got a couple books on wild edible plants. It's a good thing to know! I don't think I knew that stuff was edible. I see it around all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.