Dandelions

[Under the weather]

There are loads growing outside my flat! I don't know whether the council sprays the grass (I've never witnessed it, but that doesn't mean that they don't), so can I wash them thoroughly and feed them to my pigs?

Alternatively, has anyone tried growing dandelions indoors? Any tips?

 

[missy]

I personally wouldn't pick them, just in case. I believe that dog wee is also toxic to guinea pigs, so if there's a chance that they may have got contaminated that way, I definitely wouldn't bother.

I'd still worry, even after rinsing them well, as it's not just residual chemicals coating the outside of the plants that you need to consider - some garden chemicals are systemic and are absorbed right into the plant (and through the roots and into the soil), so I don't think any amount of washing would cleanse them, if that were the case. These kinds of chemicals can remain in the soil a long time, so even if you haven't seen any spraying yourself, I wouldn't assume that it has never been done there.

I'm probably over cautious but that's just me!

Never tried growing dandelions indoors but I imagine it'd work on a sunny windowsill, as many herbs do. Give it a try!

 

[sazmatazz]

someone told me that dog pee is poisonous to pigs, and yet the pigs I had for 7yrs spent their entire lives sharing the lawn with our male dog...

If dandelions have been sprayed with anything, you can tell by looking at them.