Spring

Greens first — nettle, wild garlic, dandelion. The hungry gap is over.

The hungry gap ends

After a winter of roots and preserves, spring is the first fresh green. It's the season of leaves — nettle, wild garlic, dandelion, sorrel.

What's up now

wild garlic    pesto, butter, everything
nettle         soup, tea, wilted greens
dandelion      young leaves, flower fritters
sorrel         lemony, raw in salads

The feel of it

Everything is new and tender. Pick the young tops, go often, and don't wait — spring greens run to seed fast.