As you know I've been in this house for about a month now, here in Mountain Grove, MO. The people that built this place were avid gardeners. That must have been 15 years or more ago. All over the large garden area there are bunches of scallions growing. They look like scallions, smell like 'em, and I broke off a green piece and put it to my tongue. It tastes like scallions. But, not know the wild, or plants very well, how would I know if these are indeed wild onions and if they are safe to eat? Or should I just forget about it and plant the seeds in the spring that I "know" are onions.

I found garlic that was seeding too. Thanks!

-- Diane from MO (walte@getgoin.net), November 04, 2001

Answers

anything that smells tastes like an onion (or garlic) is safe to eat, ,there are NO poiseness species of onion,,, so transplant them where you want them to grow

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 04, 2001.

Oh yes, I've had many yards where we would harvest the "wild" onions, We have even carried the bake potato out to the yard to snip the chives right into the bowl! And the smell of onions and garlic when we mowed the grass could be strong enough to make your eyes water!

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), November 04, 2001.

Hello Diane, I live about 45 minutes south of Mountain Grove. We have eaten wild onions around here too. Just remember, that if they look like onions but, do not smell like onions, do not eat them. That is a poisoneous plant and also grows around here. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), November 04, 2001.

Thanks, everyone! And Ernest, nice to meet you. I'm not sure if I'll try them or not unless a neighbor can check them for me. My smeller ain't too good, even with onions.

-- Diane from MO (walte@getgoin.net), November 04, 2001.

I found a wild onion variety growing while camping it has a pretty purple flower and boy o boy did it give me heart burn

-- Mkapples (mka@shocking.com), November 04, 2001.