Well it is the end of the growing season, and so I thought I would have some fun by highlight the finalists and winner of the edible perennial crop that stood out the most to me this year. I would love to hear what yours are!
Suppliers mentioned in the video:
Incredible Vegetables: https://incrediblevegetables.co.uk/
Frank P Matthews: https://www.frankpmatthews.com/
Preorder your copy of The Permaculture Garden: https://geni.us/ThePermacultureGarden
#perennial #permaculture #ediblegarden
28 Comments
It is 3 am and my sleep schedule is entirely thrown off because I'm on holiday, but… I'm saving this to watch in the morning as a reward for trying to sleep.
Good morning. Huw.
Tried growing a few Gigantes beans this year and was astonished in how much lovely big buttery beans the plant produced. Will grow much more next season
My autumn raspberries were very late this year and they flopped. I think they are not getting enough light where they are so I need to move them – which may be easier said than done! One Apricot tree in the greenhouse died but the other brings me great joy as does the peach. Thank you for suggesting korean mint and mashua – I will add those to my list.
"……not moral support," Made me laugh!
❤
I'd worry about it running off and taking over the hedgerows
Yep! Machua does well here in Cornwall too. The first year I stored some tubers over the winter to replant the following spring. I needn't have bothered, I missed some tubers and they happily overwintered and grew again in the spring. Ours doesn't flower though… not yet anyway. Perhaps because it's at the bottom of a terrace and gets mainly morning sun only. Ours are also in a pretty deep bed, so not at ground level where frost is a bit heavier.
In my area (10a), I've had fun growing yacòn. Their tubers are delightfully crunchy, juicy and sweet. Their tubers aren't reproductive, but grow from an easily reproduced rhizome. After digging up, I just replant the rhizome for another season
I have no idea all this flowers was edible,,, or maybe i don't even know them 😂😂😂,,, awww so lovely to watch ur garden ❤❤❤❤❤
I'm from South America, specifically Chile, and I don't know why I've never heard of mashua.
Please could you confirm the name of the apricot you purchased from Frank Matthews. Thanks
Huw, I think if you have any footage of cooking mashua then you should upload it (maybe in 'shorts' format) so people can get a sense of how to use this rare plant.
It looks similar to jerusalem artichokes. Which is also invasive, very hardy and delicious.
Does it also give you awful wind?
Trying to source mashua without success. Are you going to be able to ship to Europe or will it only be available within the UK?
I look forwards to getting some Mashua when you make it available…..
Thank you!!
My new discovery is fejoa, or pineapple guava shrubs. This is a separate species from the guava tree. I planted 4 in zone 9b in the states, and all are doing lovely so far. They are in a front yard hedge in a neighborhood (not a rural area). If I remember correctly, the flower petals will be edible as well as the fruit, however, my understanding is that it will take several years before it starts fruiting.
Sorrel
Zone 5b, partial sun
The plant comes back year after year, despite horrific winters.
No bug issues, the deer will nibble the leaves.
Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.
Requires no care.
my favourite this year is strigoli……….its in the silene family, is a perennial here even in cold canada and makes wonderful pesto from spring until fall
How do you spell that apricot variety, robarda? Roberta? I can't find it on Mathews' site.
Is that “Korean mint” agastache? Looks like it but haven’t heard it called Korean mint before.
Fascinating!!! I've never heard of this plant! Will definitely be in touch for a supply! (Hopefully you ship to the US) Also a question; how does this tuber store? Can I cure and store like potatoes (if you have that data yet)? The flower and foliage really remind me of a wild perennial we have on our homestead property; jewelweed, which I use in my herbal remedies. Btw, my year-on perenial winner is elderberry. Parts of it are toxic, but handled correctly, the flowers and fully ripe berries make wonderful syrups, cordials, and other berry-based food products. Thanks Huw!!
maschua is new for me, I am inspired, I am going to try that one. The korean mint is also on my wishlist now. My top productive plant is my summer raspberry tulameen. So much production.
Wikipedia: "Mashua has putative anaphrodisiac effects.[11] It has been recorded by the Spanish chronicler Cobo that mashua was fed to their armies by the Inca Emperors, "that they should forget their wives".[3][12] Studies of male rats fed on mashua tubers have shown a 45% drop in testosterone levels due to the presence of isothiocyanates." 😐
For me it was my "autumn" raspberries. They started producing rapsberries by the mid/ end of june up to the end of september! I could not believe my eyes and did expect them to be ready earliest by mid/end august! They were soooo delicious.
This last year I have finally moved to a house with a huge garden in Wales. x The best thing I grew this year was Jerusalem artichokes. I cannot believe how many I got from planting 6 small tubers. I am now in the process of pickling some of them. Love the look of your Mashua xx
Where did u get seeds of the Korean mint?