Ostrich Fern

Growing

Thriving in damp, shady corners, the ostrich fern is a vigorous grower that can quickly expand to fill a garden space. When selecting a planting site, look for a spot with consistent moisture and acidic to neutral soil, ideally between a pH of 5.0 and 7.0. Because the large, plume-like sterile fronds can become tattered or lose their aesthetic appeal during the heat of summer, providing protection from harsh winds and heavy hail will help maintain their lush, upright appearance.

If you are growing these for their edible fiddleheads, timing is everything. You must harvest the tightly wound, immature fronds in the spring before they begin to unfurl. Once the fertile fronds develop and turn brown in the autumn, they are no longer suitable for eating. For the best culinary results, cook the fiddleheads thoroughly, as eating them raw is inadvisable. To preserve your harvest for later use, blanch the fiddleheads before placing them in the freezer. If you are storing them in the refrigerator, keep them unwashed to help them last longer.