Post by macmex on Jan 31, 2009 11:41:00 GMT -5
The thread about Apios Americana made me think about an experiment I did in 2008. It certainly wasn't as novel as Apios Americana. Still, the reason I tried is much the same why I would like to try Apios Americana: that is, to come up with some reliable, varied crops which will easily produce plenty of staple food.
During my childhood my folks grew Jerusalem Artichokes (I really don't like that name. Perhaps Sunchoke would be better.) I remember that we really enjoyed them and that they produced abundantly. Spring of 2008 I ran across some in a local establishment and purchased a pound, planting them in my garden. They exceeded my expectations by a long shot, producing perhaps 10 pounds of nice roots per plant. The plants sent up multiple stalks which were about 9 feet tall.
Now, in my boyhood I ate these a lot. I didn't expect any problem. I baked the first batch and they were absolutely scrumptious! But I was completely unprepared for the tremendous gas problem I'd have from eating them. I tried this twice, both times with the same results.
Finally someone suggested boiling them in more than one change of water. That worked. I boil them, now, in two changes of water and never have a problem. I should mention that out of five people in my family, I was the only one who had any problem with them baked. So this apparently is not a problem for everyone.
Boiled they are firm, yet tasty. I used some that had been previously boiled, in place of potatoes, in a stew, and they worked out wonderfully. Perhaps it was a varietal difference, but the ones my mom cooked in the 70s came out mushy. These are not mushy at all.
Anyway, I'd highly recommend Sunchokes for high production of a useful root crop. They were very little work, and that's saying a lot, since we battle with Bermuda and Johnson grass. The Sunchokes/ Jerusalem Artichokes, out competed the weeds.
The only problem we encountered was that, in the late fall, rats consumed the roots of a couple of the plants. Of course the same rats ate 1/3 of our sweet potato harvest as well. So now I know to be vigilant and watch for rats.
I didn't get a variety name with the roots I purchased. But I believe I found the variety. The picture looks just like the ones we grew. These produce some, which are fist sized. The nobs are not a problem. We simply scrub them with a long bristle brush and boil them. They do not require peeling.
I'm planting at least three times more this year. Not only are we happy to use them in place of potatoes. But we expect to share with our children, who are mostly out of the house now.
Thought you might like to hear about this.
link to Stampede:
www.oikostreecrops.com/store/product.asp?P_ID=580&PT_ID=80&strPageHistory=cat
Here's a picture of the largest sunchoke we've harvested to date:
George
During my childhood my folks grew Jerusalem Artichokes (I really don't like that name. Perhaps Sunchoke would be better.) I remember that we really enjoyed them and that they produced abundantly. Spring of 2008 I ran across some in a local establishment and purchased a pound, planting them in my garden. They exceeded my expectations by a long shot, producing perhaps 10 pounds of nice roots per plant. The plants sent up multiple stalks which were about 9 feet tall.
Now, in my boyhood I ate these a lot. I didn't expect any problem. I baked the first batch and they were absolutely scrumptious! But I was completely unprepared for the tremendous gas problem I'd have from eating them. I tried this twice, both times with the same results.
Finally someone suggested boiling them in more than one change of water. That worked. I boil them, now, in two changes of water and never have a problem. I should mention that out of five people in my family, I was the only one who had any problem with them baked. So this apparently is not a problem for everyone.
Boiled they are firm, yet tasty. I used some that had been previously boiled, in place of potatoes, in a stew, and they worked out wonderfully. Perhaps it was a varietal difference, but the ones my mom cooked in the 70s came out mushy. These are not mushy at all.
Anyway, I'd highly recommend Sunchokes for high production of a useful root crop. They were very little work, and that's saying a lot, since we battle with Bermuda and Johnson grass. The Sunchokes/ Jerusalem Artichokes, out competed the weeds.
The only problem we encountered was that, in the late fall, rats consumed the roots of a couple of the plants. Of course the same rats ate 1/3 of our sweet potato harvest as well. So now I know to be vigilant and watch for rats.
I didn't get a variety name with the roots I purchased. But I believe I found the variety. The picture looks just like the ones we grew. These produce some, which are fist sized. The nobs are not a problem. We simply scrub them with a long bristle brush and boil them. They do not require peeling.
I'm planting at least three times more this year. Not only are we happy to use them in place of potatoes. But we expect to share with our children, who are mostly out of the house now.
Thought you might like to hear about this.
link to Stampede:
www.oikostreecrops.com/store/product.asp?P_ID=580&PT_ID=80&strPageHistory=cat
Here's a picture of the largest sunchoke we've harvested to date:
George
