Chinese Artichokes

Last year I tried growing some of these, mainly because I was intrigued by the shape:



I spent too much time trying to keep the slugs off, and gave up on them. This year [March] i was sorting out the bed for some lettuce seed, and found loads of tiny tubers, some sprouting. I collected them together and bunged them in and they are growing very well with little sign of slug attack :p
I also find I have loads of little seedlings all over the bed. Maybe I'll get a crop this year!
I have a feeling they may be like Jerusalem artichokes, impossible to get rid of once you've planted them.

 

Wow Liz. Never met them. If you get a crop you must tell us what they taste like.

 

You're right Liz. They're a distant relative of garden mint which explains why they're a little invasive.
Grew these a few years back, taste similar to jerusalem artichokes, and are just as fiddly to prepare!!!

Didn't know you could overwinter the tubers though....

Nick.

 

I had a bad experience with jeruselem artichoke in that I couldn't get rid of the things.Tried to dig thm up to clear the but the tubers kept breaking leaving small fragments behind, these would then strt growing again. Nice earthy taste to them though.

 

Looked them up. I think I'll stick to my snobby Globe artichokes (Yes I know they are no relation.)

 

Very interesting looking veg there. Would be fun to serve them up to dinner guests, letting them guess what they are.

 

I've got some globe artichokes too, hoping they will produce this year-planted late last year. I love them!
I used to have Jerusalem artichokes, nobody liked them except me. I think it was Palustris who said they are renowned for giving people wind!