| Ostrich ferns are still the only ones that are supposedly safe to eat. The properties you mention are somewhat disputed at this time, but always prefaced with the instructions that fiddleheads MUST BE COOKED before eating. The other ferns you mention above - native or not - are not edible varieties. For more information on fiddleheads, as well as a source for buying them frozen & a source for recipes, try the link below. The folks there are extremely nice, answer e-mail questions promptly, & aim to please. (They also sell fresh wild mushrooms & ramps in season as well.) |
Here is a link that might be useful: Earthly Delights
There's an excellent article on growing ferns put out by the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. See the link below.
A lot of ferns put up new shoots that look like fiddleheads. I planted several varieties this spring and I'm really enjoying the different textures and looks. I ordered mine from Big Dipper Ferns -- www.bigdipperfarm.com -- and would recommend them. They've got a wide variety and the plants were well packaged and settled in quickly and are growing rapidly. I decided to start with the ones that are described as easy to grow in the BBG article and so far, they are. |
Here is a link that might be useful: BBG article on ferns
