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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: KittyKatt on October 24, 2008, 19:17:25

Title: Chinese artichokes
Post by: KittyKatt on October 24, 2008, 19:17:25
I've seen these in the catalogues. Has anyone grown these? I think they are members of the mint family. If anyone has grown them, would they recommend them? My main questions are, are they easy to grow, are they tasty to eat, and are they free from the anti social effects that the Jerusalem artichokes can have!!
Kitty Katt
Title: Re: Chinese artichokes
Post by: star on October 24, 2008, 19:28:38
Hi KK, I think they belong to the Oxalis family though I may be wrong. I often wondered what they were like too. So I will interested in the replies :D
Title: Re: Chinese artichokes
Post by: calendula on October 24, 2008, 19:39:39
fiddly to clean cos they are small - that's what has put me off growing them, so cannot comment on taste, sorry
Title: Re: Chinese artichokes
Post by: Georgie on October 24, 2008, 19:46:34
I was given some to try last year.  Not one grew so I can't comment on the taste either.   :(

G x
Title: Re: Chinese artichokes
Post by: spinny on October 24, 2008, 19:57:37
Hi KittyKatt

I've grown them but don't think that they're worth the bother for the yield, which was very disappointing. As has already been mentioned, they're fiddly to clean.
The only way that we cooked them was to cut lengthwise and stir-fry. We didn't notice any adverse effects but as we didn't have that many, I wouldn't take it as a guarantee. To eat, they had a crisp texture and a 'nutty' flavour.

Hope this helps....

Spinny
Title: Re: Chinese artichokes
Post by: saddad on October 24, 2008, 20:56:57
I've always resisted because of the poor yields, have you tried Oca? That gives a small crunchy tuber... and that has grown well for me in a cold Greenhouse. Eristic grows it as well.
:-\
Title: Re: Chinese artichokes
Post by: KittyKatt on October 24, 2008, 21:34:20
Thank you for all the feedback. I'm still not sure whether to try them or not. It might be worth it for the novelty factor, but I think I'll concentrate on my "must haves" first!
KittyKatt