# How to Pick Dandelions
Dandelions are a common flowering weed that produces edible green leaves and bright yellow flowers, both of which can be used in alternative medicine or in cooking. The flowers are also used in dandelion wine. Picking dandelions properly involves selecting healthy dandelions from a chemical-free area. Once you pick them, you can cook them or just place them in a vase of water and set them in a sunny window.
Things You'll Need
- Scissors
- Hand spade
Instructions
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1
Wait until spring when the dandelions begin sprouting so you can properly identify them. Select dandelions from pesticide- and herbicide-free fields or yards and away from roads.
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2
Snip off flowers early in the season when they are still young. Leave 1 to 2 inches of the lower stem on the plant because this part can be tough.
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3
Cut the greens off at the soil level or dig the entire plant out of the ground, using a hand spade. Cut off the bulb. Wash the greens before eating or cooking.
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