(Allium tricoccum)
Ramps, also know as Wild Leeks, are a wonderful edible Spring ephemeral. They are one of the earliest wild greens to emerge in the Spring. Ramps prefer rich, moist woodland soils and are slow growing. They love growing under sugar maples, ash, bitternut hickory, beech, basswood and elm, but can be found growing under other tree species as well. We are growing them around the edges of our gardens and under fruit trees. We’ve found that they’re happy in these contexts as well and they’re spreading on their own through seed and bulb clones. Their leaves have a sweet, pungent garlic flavor, with the bulbs being a bit sweeter. Ramps can be over harvested in some areas of the Eastern US so we’re very aware of how and where we harvest. We tend to ramps with care, and have future generations in mind. We eat a lot of ramp greens every Spring and dry some for use as a spice throughout the year. We also blend them with butter and freeze for later use.
To grow from seed, we recommend direct sowing seeds in Fall. Create a weed free bed, then scratch the seeds into soil and mulch with an inch or two of leaves. They take roughly 18 months to germinate. For example, if sowed in Fall of 2024, they will germinate in Spring 2026.
(Allium tricoccum)
Ramps, also know as Wild Leeks, are a wonderful edible Spring ephemeral. They are one of the earliest wild greens to emerge in the Spring. Ramps prefer rich, moist woodland soils and are slow growing. They love growing under sugar maples, ash, bitternut hickory, beech, basswood and elm, but can be found growing under other tree species as well. We are growing them around the edges of our gardens and under fruit trees. We’ve found that they’re happy in these contexts as well and they’re spreading on their own through seed and bulb clones. Their leaves have a sweet, pungent garlic flavor, with the bulbs being a bit sweeter. Ramps can be over harvested in some areas of the Eastern US so we’re very aware of how and where we harvest. We tend to ramps with care, and have future generations in mind. We eat a lot of ramp greens every Spring and dry some for use as a spice throughout the year. We also blend them with butter and freeze for later use.
To grow from seed, we recommend direct sowing seeds in Fall. Create a weed free bed, then scratch the seeds into soil and mulch with an inch or two of leaves. They take roughly 18 months to germinate. For example, if sowed in Fall of 2024, they will germinate in Spring 2026.
