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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Sept 1, 2011 15:26:44 GMT -5
Here's a photo of the alleged Helianthus tuberosus grown from the Kansas seed. Sorry I'd turned off the irrigation immediately before taking the photo so I didn't feel like digging a tuber. Perhaps in a few days.  |
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Post by keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.) on Sept 1, 2011 21:40:24 GMT -5
I'm still curious as to why so many claim that the Jerusalem Artichokes rarely produce seeds. I used the forum search tool, and found the link i posted in the other thread, and was reading that many of the hybrids with sunflowers may increase root production, but often produce sterile seed producing plants. Perhaps many of the commercial roots available are actually hybrids?
...But while i was reading that article again i found out why many people may get the "Toots" from the tubers. Apparently they contain lots of inulin, and people who are only used to digesting starches may not be able to digest the Inulin, and therefore the sugars feed the gut bacteria. Interestingly enough it may help the immune system by feeding the bacteria in the gut though. And also i guess it can easily be converted into ethanol, so it may also be a good crop for fuel production.
from wikipedia:
"Inulin is indigestible by the human enzymes ptyalin and amylase, which are adapted to digest starch. As a result, inulin passes through much of the digestive system intact. It is only in the colon that bacteria metabolise inulin, with the release of significant quantities of carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and/or methane. Inulin-containing foods can be rather gassy, in particular, for those unaccustomed to inulin, and these foods should be consumed in moderation at first."
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Post by 12540dumont on Sept 1, 2011 23:14:54 GMT -5
We've grown sunchokes for a long time. I think we still have the original crop in. The trick to them is to eat them soon after being dug up as it takes a few days for the starch to really convert to inulin. The turnip rooted chervil that I was looking for contains natural amalaze, so mixed together it's a pretty amazing food. A lot of people with diabetes ask us for these tubers and our cactus pads (we have many prickly pear). The cactus tastes like slimy green beans. I like it in eggs.
A lot of people object to farting. Farting does keep the business end of the human body healthy and less prone to problems. However, old sunchokes can make too much of a good thing, so if you can't eat them fresh, please open the windows.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2011 23:37:03 GMT -5
Joseph, in my experience, the sunchoke leaves are not at all glossy.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2011 23:39:49 GMT -5
Keen, I reported that my sunchokes seem to produce nonviable seeds, and mine originally came from the grocery store.
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Post by cesarz on Sept 4, 2011 3:16:51 GMT -5
I'm still curious as to why so many claim that the Jerusalem Artichokes rarely produce seeds. Jerusalem Artichokes are self sterile, you need two varieties to get them to seed. I have had viable seeds from mine as I have both the white and the red variety and they cross, I have never thought of saving the seeds or keeping the seedlings ( I used to have an "heirloom" only mindset but that has now changed) |
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Sept 4, 2011 11:17:19 GMT -5
I had turned the sprinkle irrigation off seconds before taking the photograph of the alleged sunroots, so the glossy look was from the water. I checked for tubers yesterday. They were smaller than peas.
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Post by raymondo on Sept 4, 2011 16:44:35 GMT -5
I'm still curious as to why so many claim that the Jerusalem Artichokes rarely produce seeds. I've never seen seed on any of the Jerusalem artichokes around here so I thought they were perhaps sterile or extremely reluctant to set seed, like most garlics around the place. However, it may just be that Jerusalem Artichokes are self sterile, you need two varieties to get them to seed. I have had viable seeds from mine as I have both the white and the red variety and they cross... which would explain why I haven't seen any seed and why others have. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2011 18:25:45 GMT -5
I had turned the sprinkle irrigation off seconds before taking the photograph of the alleged sunroots, so the glossy look was from the water. I checked for tubers yesterday. They were smaller than peas. Well-irrigated, mature tubers should be about the size of ordinary radishes, occasionally branching, similar in appearance to a small ginger root. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2011 16:55:51 GMT -5
  Owner says it's an oca. He receives plant material from across the world, he does mail these out, but he wont ship to the US. |
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Post by castanea on Sept 8, 2011 20:29:59 GMT -5
I found OCA and Yacon at my local organic grocery store in berkeley I have OCA everywhere this year... but it sure is not bright colors Berkeley Bowl has flaming red, lemon yellow, and apricot colored oca now. Very bright colors |
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Post by iva on Sept 9, 2011 13:04:20 GMT -5
Degzing, who is the 'owner'?? From the fact he won't ship to US, I'm guessing, he's from Europe. Do you have any more info?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2011 0:11:27 GMT -5
Hi, Iva. Maybe, you would have better luck. oca-testbed.blogspot.com/search?q=inkyIan Pearson, of London, apparently received the plants from Joel Carbonnel, of France. Mr. Pearson doesn't send to the US, due to restrictions. So, I've attempted to reach Mr. Carbonnel. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2011 0:17:36 GMT -5
I found OCA and Yacon at my local organic grocery store in berkeley I have OCA everywhere this year... but it sure is not bright colors Berkeley Bowl has flaming red, lemon yellow, and apricot colored oca now. Very bright colors I was unclear about this. Berkley bowl is the store? May I ask one of you how much these cost? Also, is the yacon available, now? |
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Post by castanea on Sept 10, 2011 0:52:31 GMT -5
I found OCA and Yacon at my local organic grocery store in berkeley I have OCA everywhere this year... but it sure is not bright colors Berkeley Bowl has flaming red, lemon yellow, and apricot colored oca now. Very bright colors I was unclear about this. Berkley bowl is the store? May I ask one of you how much these cost? Also, is the yacon available, now? Berkeley Bowl has two grocery stores in Berkeley. I don't know how much they cost but most everything at BB is reasonable or cheap. |
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Owner says it's an oca. He receives plant material from across the world, he does mail these out, but he wont ship to the US.
