Greens
Most wild edible greens, such as dandelion greens or fireweed, are edible at any time but tastiest when young and tender. Try to get them before they reach their full size.
Dangerous
Some greens, such as fiddlehead ferns, are only edible when harvested young; maturation allows them to develop harmful toxins. For fiddleheads, pick them when the heads are still tightly curled.
Roots
Root crops and bulbs should be harvested in the spring or fall.
Flowers
Flowers, obviously enough, can only be harvested once they've grown, usually during the summer season. Harvest them before they wild.
Fruits
Wild fruits like berries should be harvested as soon as they're ripe, before they rot, fall or freeze. Rose hips are an exception; some claim they're most flavorful when harvested just after the first frost of the season.
Article Written By Marie Mulrooney
Marie Mulrooney has written professionally since 2001. Her diverse background includes numerous outdoor pursuits, personal training and linguistics. She studied mathematics and contributes regularly to various online publications. Mulrooney's print publication credits include national magazines, poetry awards and long-lived columns about local outdoor adventures.
