Yes my dock also grows copious seeds but tiny compared to the hulls. Would be awesome if they were more like grain sorghum. I tried growing sorghum last year but my season was too short, some were just ready to produce a seed head when it frosted. But the dock produces reliability every year.
The seeds will come off but I wouldn’t say it’s easy. Maybe I just need to work out a better way to harvest. Left alone they will stay on the stalk all winter. I’ve tried removing the seeds from the hull but that’s pretty much impossible without some kind of machine. I saw on the Internet where people were grinding the seed with the hull in a coffee grinder and mixing it into flour for baking. I’ve tried that and it’s good, doesn’t really have much flavor. Probably a good way to get fiber. But would be nice to use it without needing additional wheat flour.
Yes, I know what you mean about the roots being huge. I think they might be somewhat perennial. I’ve dug up some that were as big around as my wrist, I think they had been growing more than one year. They certainly can penetrate deep down even in my compacted silt. I’ve had some growing over 5 feet tall.
I’ve seen online that they are edible but the only person I’ve found who eats them only uses them medicinally and doesn’t say how she cooks them. I think they might be eaten in other countries but I know sometimes things are eaten in small amounts or prepared in certain ways so it’s made me hesitant to try the root without some kind of cooking instructions. If I remember correctly I think the person who uses the roots for medicine stores them dried so maybe you still could have tried it!
Yes, I see what you mean! The seeds are tough to remove from the hulls.
I’ve been told that dock is an annual, and that may be true because I don’t always see it coming back in the same spots every year. But I sometimes do. It’s possible it’s a self-sowing annual that looks like a perennial at first glance because the seeds often fall in the same space as their mother. Or it’s possible that perenniality is available within the species but not in the genes of all individuals (just like brassicas, or hollyhocks).
Heh. Yeah, that’s why I hesitated and procrastinated trying the root until it was dried out, and then I assumed it was too late. It obviously wouldn’t have been dangerously poisonous (otherwise I’d’ve found warnings), but I couldn’t find any indication of what the flavor might be, and I kept on dithering, thinking, “What if it tastes gross?” Plus there was always the possibility that it could be mildly poisonous and give me a stomachache, which didn’t sound like a good time.
The most likely possibility seems to me that it will be edible but have either an unpalatable texture or unpalatable flavor. That would explain why I can’t find reports of people eating it, even in foraging books that talk about eating the leaves.
It would be reassuring to see that somebody else has tried it first and reported on the experience. Just to assure me that it isn’t dangerous. Y’know?
Awesome to have people who are interested in discussing these things!!!
Did a little searching again and found this article and AI report. Says the roots are medicinal so not to be eaten like a carrot. Darn! AI says root powder has been used for tooth brushing.
Yes, some people in Africa eat dock root.Dock roots are edible and have been used for medicinal purposes in many cultures.
Edible dock plants
Bloody dock
A member of the buckwheat family that is native to Europe, southwest Asia, and northern Africa.It contains oxalic acid, so it shouldn’t be eaten in large quantities.
Round-leaved dock
The root of this plant contains tannin and has been used to treat jaundice, whooping cough, boils, and bleeding.
Curly dock
The leaves, stem, seed, and root of this plant are all edible or medicinal.
Medicinal uses of dock root
Laxative:The root of yellow dock has been used as a laxative.
Anti-inflammatory:The root of yellow dock contains chemicals that have anti-inflammatory effects.
Skin wash:An infusion of the root has been used to treat skin eruptions.
Dentifrice:The powdered root has been used as a natural dentifrice.
Side effects of dock root
Taking too much yellow dock can cause diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, and skin irritation.
Consuming raw or uncooked yellow dock can cause vomiting, heart problems, breathing difficulty, and even death.
Just thinking maybe that’s why the pocket gophers didn’t eat the dock roots. So maybe that’s a good thing. I could encircle the fruit trees with dock as a protective barrier. At any rate I m not interested in working on making something not poisonous.
My main one would be finding super super vigour in cucurbits to be able to hand broadcast them in my cover crop before rolling that one down and see my punchy landraces take over the place within minutes… Or let’s say weeks!!! From less crazy to most: maxima, lagenaria, moschata, pepo, watermelon, melon, cucumber, kiwano, luffa…
From less crazy to most: maxima, lagenaria, moschata, pepo, watermelon, melon, cucumber, kiwano, luffa… 