Crosne (Stachys affinis) First Harvest

**Durgan** · 10-08-2009, 01:00 PM

Crosne (Stachys affinis) First Harvest
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?NDDTQ 8 October 2009 Crosne (Stachys affinis) First Harvest

Forty seed tubers were planted in the early Spring in a channel lined with an old pool tarp with a cross section of about one square foot, to make harvest easier and to contain the roots. The new tubers will grow until freeze-up in about a month. The tubers are good size now, but will probably get a little larger in another month of growing, when the main harvest is undertaken. The extra tubers will be pickled for storage. I also ingest them raw as one would eat radishes, and the texture is similar to a new raw potato.

One plant will be left in the ground to over-winter and the tubers will be used for seed in 2010. One plant produced about one pound of tubers.

**frugalfranny** · 10-08-2009, 01:46 PM

Interesting Durgan.........never heard of these.

Sooooo.....is the flavor similar to a radish too?......sort of hot or a 'bite' to it?

**Durgan** · 10-08-2009, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

Interesting Durgan.........never heard of these.

Sooooo.....is the flavor similar to a radish too?......sort of hot or a 'bite' to it?

Probably closer to a new potato in flavor. No real discernible flavor. Just another vegetable, and rather nice because it is a late Fall one.

**frugalfranny** · 10-08-2009, 07:29 PM

Thanks for answering......will have to inquire around to see if anyone else has eaten/grown them.

One plant.....one pound doesn't sound like a very big yield....guess if they were lightweight, it would be.

**calimomx2** · 10-08-2009, 07:33 PM

That is so neat! I'd not heard of them before either, thanks for explaining about them!

**Durgan** · 10-08-2009, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

Thanks for answering......will have to inquire around to see if anyone else has eaten/grown them.

One plant.....one pound doesn't sound like a very big yield....guess if they were lightweight, it would be.

One pound is a large quantity for two people. Last year I got 26 pounds from about 30 plants. Somebody in Europe told me that was an exceptional harvest. There is still a month of growth left so we will see.

It is hard to tell from a clump of growth if several plants have merged. Usually they are planted about seven inches apart.

Anything to improve on the North American diet is a plus. Fat, sugar, and salt is reduced by eating a large quantity of vegetables. To me this is just another rather pleasant vegetable, and the crosne make great snack food raw. But the competition is cheezies, chips, big macs, and pizza.

**frugalfranny** · 10-09-2009, 12:22 AM

Hey, if they taste anything like a potato I would like them.

You have me very curious about them....will certainly keep my eyes and ears open for info.

**Durgan** · 10-09-2009, 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

Hey, if they taste anything like a potato I would like them.

You have me very curious about them....will certainly keep my eyes and ears open for info.

Google is a great search engine.
http://www.foodreference.com/html/fcrosne.html
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stachys_affinis[/ame]
http://www.rusticgirls.com/food/crosne.html

CROSNE

Crosne, also called Chinese artichoke, Japanese artichoke, knotroot and Chorogi. This is an Asian member of the mint family grown for its unusually shaped edible tubers. They were introduced to Europe in the 1880s (first cultivated in France near Crosne, hence the name) and enjoyed popularity until the 1920s.

Crosne have been 'rediscovered' lately and it's popularity has increased here in the U.S. The tubers look a string of misshapen mottled pearls (they are also described as 'petrified worms). They can be eaten raw, in salads, or stir fried, boiled, baked or in soups.