Is Blue Sowthistle ok?

TortoiseBea · 17-07-2011, 04:51 PM

Just ordering some plug plants off the naturescape website and wondered if blue sowthistle is edible? is it the same as normal sowthistle

thank you

Ozric Jonathan · 17-07-2011, 06:33 PM

Hi. There are two plants called this and the one sold by Naturescape is a non native cicerbita which can grow up to two meters in height. This plant has become naturalised in some places in England. Not sure how closely related to other sow thistles but is from the family Asteracea which has a lot of edible plants in it.

**Alan1** · 17-07-2011, 06:35 PM

chicory is also known as blue sowthistle sometimes or so I've seen on plant sites

Ozric Jonathan · 17-07-2011, 07:03 PM

I can see why it would be Alan as it looks like a sow thistle. I've been successful in growing cicorum intybus for the first time this year. And its a useful one to have in the garden. Young plants can look similar to dandies but not once they shoot up. Maybe our OP would consider some chicory from NS as I see they sell them and those are def ok.

**16 shells** · 17-07-2011, 07:21 PM

Some say it is a Corn Flower look alike, when broken it does not have the milky sap. Can be rare in area's.

**Alan1** · 17-07-2011, 07:30 PM

I've got 2 chicory plants I bought from Dobbies Garden World last year, I'm surprised they survived the winter but anyway they were really tall but collapsed under the weight of the heavy rain so I chopped them in half, pity because the flowers were about to come on them. Started growing again though. they are handy to have because the leaves are good right up to December. They were buried under 3ft of snow for about 2 months

TortoiseBea · 17-07-2011, 10:30 PM

Ok thank you guys
I was going to get some chicory anyway (not sure if my tort even likes this but hey) but was looking for some sort of thistle as he loves smooth sow thistle (or the one that looks like this anyway http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...w=1366&bih=667) as I can't find it anywhere to pick and would like to buy some. Are there any places I can buy plug plants of this? Is it easy to grow from seed?
I have grown milk thistle successfully but he hates it, its only the smooth sow thistle that he loves :P
Thanks again

**Alan1** · 17-07-2011, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TortoiseBea

Ok thank you guys
I was going to get some chicory anyway (not sure if my tort even likes this but hey) but was looking for some sort of thistle as he loves smooth sow thistle (or the one that looks like this anyway http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...w=1366&bih=667) as I can't find it anywhere to pick and would like to buy some. Are there any places I can buy plug plants of this? Is it easy to grow from seed?
I have grown milk thistle successfully but he hates it, its only the smooth sow thistle that he loves :P
Thanks again

someone posted a link to a site for weed plug plants I think. seeds would probably not grow till next year now

I'm sure it will like chicory, mine love it, a bit of a natural wormer too but feed in moderation like most stuff

Ozric Jonathan · 17-07-2011, 10:56 PM

Naturescape

http://www.naturescape.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

they have various plugs of sow thistles. They are about £1 each but i reckon it pays to get several of the same plant and start a group of them. One of the sow thistles spreads by roots and can start to pop up all over the place. Easily controlled but there's always enough.

I reckon your tort will eat the chicory if you get it. If the plant gets going there's a load of meals on it and you can cut it and let it grow back. The flowers are nice too.

TortBabe · 21-07-2011, 10:21 PM

Hi I checked out the Blue Sowthistle with The Tortoise Table, and they say it is safe to feed, as I had ordered some of it too

17-07-2011, 04:51 PM	#1
TortoiseBea Member Hatched Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK Posts: 291	Is Blue Sowthistle ok? Just ordering some plug plants off the naturescape website and wondered if blue sowthistle is edible? is it the same as normal sowthistle thank you __________________

17-07-2011, 06:33 PM	#2
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Hi. There are two plants called this and the one sold by Naturescape is a non native cicerbita which can grow up to two meters in height. This plant has become naturalised in some places in England. Not sure how closely related to other sow thistles but is from the family Asteracea which has a lot of edible plants in it. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

17-07-2011, 07:03 PM	#4
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	I can see why it would be Alan as it looks like a sow thistle. I've been successful in growing cicorum intybus for the first time this year. And its a useful one to have in the garden. Young plants can look similar to dandies but not once they shoot up. Maybe our OP would consider some chicory from NS as I see they sell them and those are def ok. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

17-07-2011, 07:21 PM	#5
16 shells Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hull Posts: 7,286	Some say it is a Corn Flower look alike, when broken it does not have the milky sap. Can be rare in area's. __________________ Paul.

17-07-2011, 10:30 PM	#7
TortoiseBea Member Hatched Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK Posts: 291	Ok thank you guys I was going to get some chicory anyway (not sure if my tort even likes this but hey) but was looking for some sort of thistle as he loves smooth sow thistle (or the one that looks like this anyway http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...w=1366&bih=667) as I can't find it anywhere to pick and would like to buy some. Are there any places I can buy plug plants of this? Is it easy to grow from seed? I have grown milk thistle successfully but he hates it, its only the smooth sow thistle that he loves :P Thanks again __________________

17-07-2011, 06:35 PM	#3
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	chicory is also known as blue sowthistle sometimes or so I've seen on plant sites

17-07-2011, 07:30 PM	#6
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	I've got 2 chicory plants I bought from Dobbies Garden World last year, I'm surprised they survived the winter but anyway they were really tall but collapsed under the weight of the heavy rain so I chopped them in half, pity because the flowers were about to come on them. Started growing again though. they are handy to have because the leaves are good right up to December. They were buried under 3ft of snow for about 2 months

17-07-2011, 10:56 PM	#9
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Naturescape http://www.naturescape.co.uk/acatalog/index.html they have various plugs of sow thistles. They are about £1 each but i reckon it pays to get several of the same plant and start a group of them. One of the sow thistles spreads by roots and can start to pop up all over the place. Easily controlled but there's always enough. I reckon your tort will eat the chicory if you get it. If the plant gets going there's a load of meals on it and you can cut it and let it grow back. The flowers are nice too. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

21-07-2011, 10:21 PM	#10
TortBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 6,919	Hi I checked out the Blue Sowthistle with The Tortoise Table, and they say it is safe to feed, as I had ordered some of it too __________________ Busy Mum to ~ 2 Kids, 2 Yorkies, 1 Horsfield, 6 Hermanns, 2 Iberas, 6 Tunisians, 2 Indian Stars and 2 Pancakes

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