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I have 2 lots of 2 pips which are beginning to sprout so they will need potting immediately.

This is a climbing plant that can get very large.   It is hardy in the UK and produces edible tubers that can reach 1 metre.   The tubers must be cooked before eating however it can take up to 4 years to full maturity from pips.   You might be happier to know that replanted tubers take only 2 years!!

This is a rare one, mentioned in Simon Hickmott's book "Growing Unusual Vegetables".   You will need a sense of adventure with a stiff dose of determination for this one.   This year's surplus from USA.

Oh go on then I like a good challenge  ::) ;D   ... if you have no other takers I'd love to have a go!

What are you looking for in exchange ???

Flowerlady......Brave one.   Two pips for you.

PM me your details.

One more lot to go......who among you dare!!?

Sorry folks all gone now.

Hope you all enjoy

Are these the ones that are highly toxic unless you cook them properly?

Suzanne   It is true to say that these tubers should not be eaten raw but cooked thouroughly.

It is also true that other vegetables or vegetable plant parts can be poisonous.   Potatoes should not be eaten in the green state as they contain a toxic substance that the body can neither assimilate or remove.   Continuous ingestion can cause a build up of these toxins.

Aubergines too belong to the nightshade family and must be cooked.   Other veg like beans have poisonous roots.

Proper warnings have been given along with the pips.

Thanks anyway Suzanne for reminding us of the need to be aware of the dangers inherent in growing seemingly innocuous veg.

Further basic info can be found here:

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=363&account=none

I'm growing five from seed and they're doing well so far, so good luck with them!

Thanks for that Amazin.   I have already passed this link on along with a few others to those wishing to try the Yams via PM.

It's nice to see others trying unusuals too  I don't feel quit so weird now as when I offered some unusual fruits a short while back I got no response at all.   I just had to offer these as they are sprouting and simply won't keep.

I have quite a collection of unusuals and always looking out for others.   It is one of the more interesting parts of gardening to me when I globe trot on the net locating rare and unusual veg like Wapato, Japanese Sword Beans, Babbington's Leek, Tiger Nuts, Madera Vine and Mashua to name but a few.   I have bought varieties from USA, India, Australia, Austria, France and Ireland using online language translators where appropriate.

All the best with your yams...mine are just starting to shoot.

Cheers - there's a fair few of us secret exotic lovers on the forum, you know

(blimey, that's boosted my reputation no end!)

;D

rentawreck
thank you. is there anythng specific you would like?
lbb

Thanks for the info. I'd seen them, or something similar,  on a cookery programme - maybe Come Dine with me or something like that. The host was serving "yams"  and had gone into detail about how improtant it was to cook them properly to his guests, and then when they had eaten them had said it was the first time he had ever cooked them and hoped everyone was going to be alright. It sounded like my dinner parties - but i start with ingredients that are perfectly safe raw and end up with something that could be highly inedible cooked  :o

Looking at your other notes - i used to love Tiger nuts as a child, but could only buy them from the seaside for some strange reason. Are they simple to grow and where can i buy seeds from?

QuoteLooking at your other notes - i used to love Tiger nuts as a child, but could only buy them from the seaside for some strange reason. Are they simple to grow and where can i buy seeds from?

Tiger nuts were dried when I was younger................and dinosaurs ruled the world.

Bad News-----------I don't know of any current UK seed tuber distributor.

Good News---------You only need to lay you hand on some tiger nuts.

Tiger nuts are a tuber not a nut.

When you get them soak them - sprout them - plant them as there are no different varieties so that Tiger Nuts are simply Tiger Nuts.   You can get them at good health food shops etc.

A cheap source is Ebay (search for "un-prepared tiger nuts") as they are used as fish bait - 99p for 250g.   There, you have one of my secrets now.

If you really get stuck get back to me and I will send you 20 or so.

Go here to learn more.

http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/growing_show_vegetables_1/tiger_nuts.php

Enjoy.

Rentawreck brilliant - I'll go and buy some and thanks for the website link.  :)