I am looking for some Large tubered Arrowhead plants, --anyone have any info, --
My plants have less than golf ball size tubers, they taste great, and I would love to find some varieties that have larger tubers, -- any info would be great, --Yours in the garden, --Michael
Large tuber Arrowhead Plants ?
You eat them? I learn something new every day!
They have a wonderful flavor and texture, --richer than potato, and nuttier in flavor, --
Do you cook them or eat them raw? You have my complete interest in this subject!
I steam them for a few min til a fork will slide through --it doesn't take very long, -- I don't know for sure how nutritious they are --but I would bet they are very nutritious, as they are rich and very satisfing, -- Michael
Where did you learn about this food source? And what other unique plants are you munching on?
look on www.michaels4gardens.com to see some of what I eat, -- right now I have lots of things in the garden, --but I am eating a lot of Taro, Malanga, Dioscorea Yam, Water Chestnut, sweet potatoes, and J artichokes, also --
Wow, what a great site! I've been looking at different things to grow here in Florida, that can take the heat, and are also edible. I loved reading through your pages. Thanks for sharing.
You have water chestnut?? I have wanted some of that forever and could not find any. Where did you get it?
Water Chestnut, --I can't even remember where it came from, -[had it for years] --but I have lots, --if you want some we can trade --[or what ever] or--I will send some for shipping, -- it is the Asian type [not the horned northern invasive kind] it has limited tolerance to cold [if the corms freeze they die] -so it has to be stored inside , if the pond will freeze solid, -
Well Michael, I guess I asked some questions that many others found interesting too. I loved the information on your website. I live in the Chicago area but wish I could have tropical plants here around my pond. I need a tall green house to store the plants in for the winter . . . I need a lot of money too . . . LOL!
when I moved to the South I had to re-think gardening, -- the things I liked to grow out-west and up-north struggled badly or just died out-right, -- I found a wonderful bunch of things I can grow here ,and not have to spray toxic waste on my food, --Michael
I had Tom McCubbins book about edible gardening for Florida, I think it was called the Edible Landscape. I wish I could remember where I put it! :( It was the best book I'd ever found for people who live in Florida and want to EAT what's in their yard!
That would be so appreciated Michael! With winter coming on a lot of stuff has died back so there is a limit of what I could dig up. We are supposed to get in the low '30's or high '20's this weekend. Would it be too late to ship them up this way do you think? I would hate to have you go to the trouble to get them together just to have frozen mush on this end. Can we trade in spring? I would give them the bestest home ever!
the local library has resources for books that have locally growing plants for your area, tell u what the plant is, which part is used for what, sketches of the plants...several different books actually. N a lot of libraries love the online access n can order what u might ask for if they dont have it...current books
Kittriana, --you must have a wonderful library, --ours is not all that well stocked, -or staffed - I did find a great book about local Mushrooms at the library, [but all the psillisibe pages were cut out], but I was looking for edible ones anyway so it was not too much of a bother, --I just ordered me a copy on line so now I have a copy that is not sanitized, ---Michael
Tetleytuna , re-WaterChestnuts, -if you have an aquarium, you can grow them inside [in good light] and plant them out in the spring, --or-- just ask me in the spring, --[remind me we are trading as I sell a lot of things on the net] I can do what ever you wish, -- MIchael
This message was edited Nov 14, 2008 6:55 AM
Merrymary, --I will have to try and find the book you mention, --I love books, and try to find things like that, --thanks, --Michael
Books, --one of my favorites is Eric Toensmeier 's book , Perennial Vegetables -it has lots of good info in it, --and he talks about a lot of plants that will grow in the South also, --[ and some that won't] --but I use it as a resource book quite often, -- and also recomend it when I am teaching Tropical gardening seminars, it is very easy to understand and gives people a lot of possibilities to explore--, --Michael
I saw one copy listed on ebay yesterday for $33. The great thing about this book is that it's specifically designed for Florida, and goes county by county as to "which" variety of each thing you should use, according to your chill hours, etc. Tom McCubbin is on many of the Central Florida new programs with gardening tips, and works with UF 's Agriculture program. They work specifically on creating plants that stand up to heat better, fight off nematodes, require less chill hours, handle fungus/virus, etc.
I meant to say "one copy" of the Tom McCubbin book.
I've also been told that you can eat the bottom of cat-tails, where the base is white...much like Hearts of Palm...but haven't done it.
This is such a fascinating thread! So many cool things that can come from the garden! I was familiar with taro, after a few trips to Hawaii, but the others are so neat.
Thanks for sharing, everyone.
Elizabeth
Yes indeed you can eat the bottom of cattails. They are similar in taste to cucumber and not at all fiberous if you just eat the white part. They also have the mucilage that okra has so if that "slimy" texture is a problem for you I would recommend against it.
Michael, I would love to trade with you in the spring if that is ok. I have a great place to overwinter the bulbs but my concern is that they would freeze in the mail. Latest weather reports have the possibility of snow. YUCK!!! If you like elephant ears I have several different kinds. I found this year that they did not produce bulbs since they were grown directly in the pond but by spring perhaps there will be some.
Seems we have not been much help with your original question though! Something that has occured to me is that you could check with a local botanical garden that has aquatic plants and they may be able to give you some suggestions. If any colleges in your area have a horticulture program I bet that sort of sluething would be something the students would enjoy so that may be a possibility for you as well.
I found a site that has several varieties on Arrowhead, -- I will probly order them all and see what I get, --I will plant the largest tubers each year and select for size that way, --if I live long enough I may develope a larger tuber size plant, --OH-WELL it's a journey, --Michael
I was able to get both Tom Mccubbins books, --1 and 2 at Amazon for $50 [with shipping] so I will be able to see what He has to say, --thanks for the tip, -- Michael
Awesome! The Edible Landscape one has been a really great resource for me!
thanks again, [it froze here this am , it burnt my Bananas and Xanths, etc, --OH-WELL]--yours in the garden, --Michael
Tomorrow will be 39 here....I'm (of course) not prepared. I'll cover what's the most important stuff, and keep my fingers crossed for the rest. All of the underwater plants will be fine...but the coleus collection will go bust....I only started the veggie and herb seeds and have not yet put them outside, so they'll be good. My carambola tree is blooming (star fruit) as is my plum tree, so I don't know how much they will be affected. The papayas pretty much go year round, but this may knock the fruit off.
Mary - you can take cuttings of your coleus and restart them inside if they bite the dust outside. Supposedly they root really easily. Just make sure to take the cuttings before the cold weather hits.
good luck, --I have so much outside, I just take my chances,-- I just replant from the greenhouse in the spring the things that die in the winter, --I will move my Black stem Taro [Xanth] before tomorrow night --if I loose that I can't replace that yet, -- Michael
I just found this thread & I'm so excited! I, like Tetleytuna, have been looking for water chestnuts for years with no success. I was a great fan of Euell Gibbons & Bradford Angier (sp?) as a child & teenager. The top "cattail" part of the cattail is edible & delicious before it has a chance to develop "fuzz". It tastes just like sweet corn.
Michael, would you interested in trading your water chestnuts for chayote? I don't know the variety, but it's been grown in this area for many years. I bought one at the feed store years ago & never had to buy another since it's perennial. One vine usually produces a minimum of 100 1-2 lb. fruits per season. It's one of my favorite fruits/vegetables. I only garden using organic methods. Our weather right now is crazy - it was 27 degrees last night, high of 53 today, & supposed to be 29 tonight. The freeze last week froze my large bunch of Ice Cream bananas - very depressing 'cause they're my favorite. I guess I won't be wearing shorts this Thanksgiving! The weatherman forecast another arctic front hitting us later this week - the 3rd one in less than 2 weeks. We usually have high's in the 70's & low's in the 50's this time of year.
sure, --I love to trade, --send me a note, -- Michael@Michaels4gardens.com
My bananas look terrible also, ---Michael