Curly Dock

Value as a forage food -

The Dock plant (Rumex spp.) is a green, leafy, flowering, weed that is abundant throughout North America and is easy to identify. Also, its greens are high in vitamins and minerals A, E, C, K, iron, magnesium, manganese, calcium, folic acid, carotenoids, and Omega 3 fatty acids. In addition, they are high in fiber which helps to keep your digestive system working properly and, they contain antioxidants which help prevent cell damage and cell mutations.

Where it can be found naturally -

The many different species Dock plant are quite common throughout North America except in desert regions but Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) is one of the best known species and it is also one of the most abundant. In addition, Dock has a distinct preference for open, sunny, areas, and moist, cultivated, or disturbed soils such as pastures, fallow fields, field edges, and fence rows. Thus, highly productive agricultural regions will always have a high density of Dock available.

How to identify it -

Curly Dock is a perennial that grows to a height of 1 ft. to 5 ft. and which produces a rosette of large, long, slim, lance-shaped, green, leaves up to 20 in. in length with distinctly wavy edges (aka "crisped" by botanists). In addition, as the plant matures, it produces a long, slim, cone-shaped, flowering, stalk upon which green flowers bloom. Also, it should be noted that there are several different species of the Dock plant in North America and, although all species of the Dock plant (Rumex) are edible, their taste ranges from highly palatable to extremely bitter with a slightly lemony taste.

How it should be prepared -

The leaves of the Dock plant are the most often eaten part of the plant and they are prepared either in a salad as a green vegetable similar to lettuce or steamed or stewed and eaten as a green similar to spinach or mustard. Also, because the flavor of this plant varies so widely, it should be noted that there is a technique that you can employ to ensure that you are harvesting a palatable species of Dock. So, assuming that you are looking at a Dock plant (Rumex), look for long, narrow, leaves with a smooth surface texture and no red or purple anywhere on the leaf, midvein, or petiole. Also, look for the lightest green petiole. Then, sample a portion of the leaf before harvesting.

Note: Dock leaves are best harvested in the spring when the leaves are still curled into a tube.

How it should be stored -

Wild, green, leafy, vegetables cannot be preserved for long periods without modern refrigeration unless they are canned.

Can you grow it in your garden? -

Yes, the Dock plant can be cultivated in gardens and flowerbeds throughout the lower 48 states provided that it is given the correct soil and light conditions. For instance, Dock has a distinct preference for open, sunny, areas, and moist, cultivated, or disturbed soils and thus, it does well in well light, freshly tilled, flower beds and gardens with well drained soil.