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Post by Hristo on Feb 21, 2010 13:50:09 GMT -5
Got some seeds and wonder how easy/hard is to germinate them? Of course any other observations are welcomed. Seems interesting species!
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Post by mjc on Feb 21, 2010 13:59:19 GMT -5
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Post by Hristo on Feb 21, 2010 14:39:03 GMT -5
Thanks, I saw this, but also read on other sites that they need cold stratification. So I'm a bit confused whether or not to stratify them before sowing. After all, probably it is best to stratify them.
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Post by mjc on Feb 21, 2010 15:41:14 GMT -5
They are pretty much a 'wild' plant, not much history of cultivation or selection, so what I try to do with plants like that is follow their 'natural' behavior. For most, that means they'll fruit in the summer, drop the seeds in the late summer/early autumn and then lay dormant over the winter. So I either sow them late in the autumn and keep them in a cold frame all winter or stick them in under refrigeration for most of the winter, then sow them in pots/flats in the early spring.
I don't think stratifying them for the next few weeks would hurt them any...
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Post by Hristo on Feb 21, 2010 16:00:47 GMT -5
That was mine point too
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Post by stevil on Feb 22, 2010 4:32:09 GMT -5
I would also stratify - this species self-sows in my garden. No hurry with germinating perennials, just let it happen naturally. I have a cold frame in the garden and I remove the glass when it snows in winter. Have some 300 new varieties safely stratifying under snow at the moment.
We're still in the deep freeze here. Coldest morning so far this winter at -23C and it has only just crept above freezing point (maximum temperature) on two days since mid-December. Not that much insulating snow either, so I fear mass mortality....on the positive side, lots of space for this year's batch of permaveggie seedlings...
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Post by ottawagardener on Feb 22, 2010 11:00:17 GMT -5
I started growing this plant two years ago and didn't stratify but broadcast seed in my 'coldframe' space in summer. It was surpringly cold hardy in the cold frame. I haven't checked for 'nuts' yet but it did flower last year. Feb. 09  Summer 09 in flower showing off its family connections  |
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Post by canadamike on Feb 22, 2010 19:40:25 GMT -5
Now guys: Is it good to eat...and productive enough to geta true harvest that is something else than the celebration of the season?
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Post by Hristo on Feb 22, 2010 19:57:16 GMT -5
I was about to ask the same thing. I read it is not very productive, but how about the taste? Is it as good as most sites describe it? Can it produce sizable tuber the first year, or requires more growing seasons?
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Post by ottawagardener on Feb 23, 2010 8:00:00 GMT -5
No idea. I get a sense that it is a nice inclusion to a low care part of the yard that you are not trying to get to produce large quantities of food because it is low yield but I don't really know as I haven't grown it enough. I"ll take some plant material to my new place and let you know.
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Post by stevil on Feb 23, 2010 9:20:56 GMT -5
No, they're not high yielding, but in the wild you can easily harvest a reasonable quantity as they grow very densely.
However, I remember somebody on another forum asking whether other people got a hot sensation when eating them and I replied
I can’t remember any hot sensation. I’ve never more than nibbled on them occasionally as I only have a few plants. However, I dug one now. It has initially a mild nutty flavour, but then there is indeed a burning
aftertaste at the back of the throat. The same with Bunium. Strange I
haven’t noticed this before. Is it perhaps seasonal or is it me that’s
changed. I get a similar reaction to Day Lily buds (Hemerocallis) – not all
experience that, and for that reason don’t eat them raw any more.
I see that PFAF also report that some people experience the unpleasant hot aftertaste. Ken Fern says: " We have never detected this hot aftertaste, and feel that the flavour is reminiscent of brazil nuts"
Somebody else has left an interesting comment on the PFAF page, suggesting it depends on location, soil or something...my soil is quite lime rich:
I have found pignut with four plants growing from the same tuber. i have tried them in Yorkshire, North Devon and Salisbury and the hot peppery after taste was obvious in North Devon, milder in Yorkshire and not detectable in Salisbury.
I'd forgotten that Bunium had the same effect raw. Anyone else?
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Post by Hristo on Feb 23, 2010 16:50:22 GMT -5
I will see what will happen this year, and if I like it may try some breeding next years.
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Post by canadamike on Feb 23, 2010 20:27:53 GMT -5
Is it something you can cook??
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