Chinese artichoke, Japanese artichoke – also known as Crosne

Chinese artichoke, Japanese artichoke – also known as Crosene

About a quarter of the way through this year in one of our permaculture meetings we were gifted with a wilted stem of a plant which I can only describe looked like the hairy leaves of a mint plant. We were reinsured that it was actually something that is known as the Chinese artichoke or Japanese artichoke and the wonderful lady reinsured us it would be okay.

We were told to pop it into the ground and just leave it and then in the wintertime harvested.

So we duly did as we were guided today and we placed it in an earth filled water trough that was situated in the East facing side of the garden and there we left it and slowly began to take life as it got bigger and bigger.

And the researching began – finding it to be an Asian member of the mint family which is known for its edible unusual shape tubular's, described as appearing similar to a small grub or misshapen pearls. Usually about two inches or more in length and about one-half inch or less in diameter, offering a vague, nutty sweetness and juiciness. Its known for a high natural sugar content and are typically classified as a carbohydrate. Extremely elaborate labour-intensive to harvest and takes hours of hands-on labour only a few pounds available product these wonderful little creations.

What really interests us is the healing equalities and in traditional Chinese medicine it has used both the plant and its tubers for the treatment of cold symptoms, and the research shows us these little creations represent "longevity" and is highly regarded as a symbol of good luck.

So the other day when the moon cycle was indicating harvesting of roots we excitedly gathered the wheel barrow, hand fork, rain coats and off we went of this harvesting adventure, down the garden path until we reached the rain soaked trough. Peering out of the top was this sad looking frost court plant and myself and Jeff looked at each other with bewilderment and we started carefully uplifting the plant little by little until suddenly we saw the shiny white odd looking pearls

YES!! There was so many of the little tubular's, the excitement took over us and we dug deeper and deeper and with cold earth clagged hands we harvested our treasure.

They are an amazing … almost beyond words of description, nutty, juicy and filled with sweetness and recommend anyone to take the pain of the elaborate labour-intensive harvest and to reap the rewards of what nature and Mother Earth can provide.