For my latest gardening-culinary experiment I'm considering growing my own tiger lilies for the production of buds for my Chinese cooking. I know, I could just go to the local Chinese market and buy a large bag for a few dollars. But why buy what I can grow? The question then is "what do I grow?" I've been trying to figure out the answer and think that the answer is Lilium lancifolium. Does that sound right? Has anyone else grown and used their own? My wife is also concerned that you are still alive from the experience :) Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom.
Edible tiger lily buds
Lilium davidii willmotiae is supposedly the one the Chinese grow for edible bulb production. Didn't know about edible flower buds of true lilies (Lilium), but certainly of daylilies (Hemerocallis). I hope you're not getting them mixed up.
I know from experience that davidii can grow giant bulbs, with the flower count to match (and match lancifolium). Although it is not quite as vigorous as lancifolium, it doesn't have those pesky bulbils in the axils of each leaf. I don't think davidii can carry hidden viruses as lancifolium do. Seems like a safer bet to use davidii, or some other virus free lily for your culinary endeavor. That way, you can keep your other lilies relatively safe from infection. If you don't grow any other lilies, than it probably doesn't matter.
Leftwood,
Thanks for the warning. From what I have been able to glean from web sites I found via Google I think bulb and bud production are independent. I wouldn't stake my life on this and perhaps another gardener can provide the answer. Maybe many species could be used for edible buds?
After spending another while I've answered my own question. Tiger lily buds are better called golden needles and aren't lilies at all. Leftwood, you were correct when you suggested that they might be daylilies. As far as I can tell they are Hemerocallis fulva, the common (around here at least) orange daylily which I already have growing across the back of my yard. I guess I'll be picking buds tomorrow!
I would also guess that any Lilium would work. But would stake my life on it either!
We cross posted. So lilies are out, daylilies are in. I definitely do know that any daylilies are flower bud adible. But I would imagine you might find some slight differences in taste.
Saw a big pot of davidii recently. Bulbs weer bought by the lb. (kg) in Victoria BC Chinatown.
inanda
Inanda, any tips or recipes for food preparation?