The Chinese artichoke plant yields a little tuber popular in
Asian cuisine. Outside of Asia where it is often found pickled, Chinese
artichoke plants are rarities. Imported into France, the plant more often goes
by the name Crosne, named after the French village it was initially cultivated
in.
Today, crosnes (or chorogi) can be found in specialty
gourmet shops and high-end restaurants with a price to match, but you can also
grow your own. Read on to learn how to grow and when to harvest Chinese
artichokes.
What are Chinese Artichokes?
The Chinese artichoke plant (Stachys affinis) is a
perennial root vegetable found in the mint family. Like mint
plants, Chinese artichoke have a propensity to grow wantonly and can easily
overtake a garden area.
They have foliage that looks much akin to the leaves of spearmint
on low growing plants hardy to zone 5. Used both as a culinary herb and
medicinal plant, most Chinese artichoke growing is done for the delicious
tubers, which can be eaten fresh or cooked and have a nutty flavor similar to water
chestnut or jicama.
In mid to late summer, the tiny plants are decorated with lovely pink to mauve flower spikes.
How to Grow Chinese Artichokes
Chinese artichoke plants are cultivated for the small tubers
they produce, called crosnes, which have become somewhat of a culinary
sensation. These tubers are time consuming to harvest and have a very short
shelf life once dug up, which contributes to their rarity and high price.
Despite their healthy price tag, crosnes have a multitude of uses. They can be eaten fresh out of hand like a carrot, tossed into salads, or cooked in soups, stir fried, sautéed, or steamed.
Luckily, Chinese artichoke growing is a simple matter. The
plants prefer well-draining soil in full sun. The soil should, however, be kept
moist and mulched. Due to its invasive tendencies, plant Chinese artichoke in
an area away from other plants. Spring is a good time for planting the tubers.
When to Harvest Chinese Artichoke
Chinese artichoke plants take about five to seven months to develop tubers. They are ready to harvest anytime during the fall and winter when the plant is dormant.
The top growth may be killed back by frost, but the tubers
themselves are quite hardy and can be left underground for later harvest. Lift
the tubers as you would potatoes.
It is almost impossible to find all the tubers but any left behind will grow
the successive season.
Chinese artichoke growing is extremely simple and, because
the plant is a perennial, will provide the gardener with years of delicious
tubers. Although it can be invasive, at the time of harvest, the plant’s size
can be retarded by simply pulling it up.
The Chinese artichoke plant yields a little tuber popular in
Asian cuisine. Outside of Asia where it is often found pickled, Chinese
artichoke plants are rarities. Imported into France, the plant more often goes
by the name Crosne, named after the French village it was initially cultivated
in.
Today, crosnes (or chorogi) can be found in specialty
gourmet shops and high-end restaurants with a price to match, but you can also
grow your own. Read on to learn how to grow and when to harvest Chinese
artichokes.
What are Chinese Artichokes?
The Chinese artichoke plant (Stachys affinis) is a
perennial root vegetable found in the mint family. Like mint
plants, Chinese artichoke have a propensity to grow wantonly and can easily
overtake a garden area.
They have foliage that looks much akin to the leaves of spearmint
on low growing plants hardy to zone 5. Used both as a culinary herb and
medicinal plant, most Chinese artichoke growing is done for the delicious
tubers, which can be eaten fresh or cooked and have a nutty flavor similar to water
chestnut or jicama.
In mid to late summer, the tiny plants are decorated with lovely pink to mauve flower spikes.
How to Grow Chinese Artichokes
Chinese artichoke plants are cultivated for the small tubers
they produce, called crosnes, which have become somewhat of a culinary
sensation. These tubers are time consuming to harvest and have a very short
shelf life once dug up, which contributes to their rarity and high price.
Despite their healthy price tag, crosnes have a multitude of uses. They can be eaten fresh out of hand like a carrot, tossed into salads, or cooked in soups, stir fried, sautéed, or steamed.
Luckily, Chinese artichoke growing is a simple matter. The
plants prefer well-draining soil in full sun. The soil should, however, be kept
moist and mulched. Due to its invasive tendencies, plant Chinese artichoke in
an area away from other plants. Spring is a good time for planting the tubers.
When to Harvest Chinese Artichoke
Chinese artichoke plants take about five to seven months to develop tubers. They are ready to harvest anytime during the fall and winter when the plant is dormant.
The top growth may be killed back by frost, but the tubers
themselves are quite hardy and can be left underground for later harvest. Lift
the tubers as you would potatoes.
It is almost impossible to find all the tubers but any left behind will grow
the successive season.
Chinese artichoke growing is extremely simple and, because
the plant is a perennial, will provide the gardener with years of delicious
tubers. Although it can be invasive, at the time of harvest, the plant’s size
can be retarded by simply pulling it up.