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OT- Sunchokes and comfrey to share/trade

I've been digging out some plants in my garden, and have quite a few comfrey roots and crowns as well as sunchoke(aka jerusalem artichoke) tubers to share or trade.   Both are perennials known for their tenacity- plant them where you want them to stay for a looong time, because it's hard to get rid of them once they are established.  My comfrey seems self-sterile, doesn't produce seed and spread that way, but if the roots are disturbed or severed each one will send up shoots and become it's own plant- pity the fool who tries to rototill in a comfrey patch!  But very useful to have alongside the garden, next to compost pile- great for a groundcover in the orchard, chop-n-drop mulch, awesome compost tea ingredient, bees, worms, chickens, rabbits, pigs love the stuff!   I add chopped leaves to planting holes for most all my veggie transplants, potatoes- they thrive on the mineral richness of the material as it quickly breaks down.  Also medicinal, quickens cell division for healing purposes(also known as 'knitbone').

Sunchokes are a bit more 'spready' as they send their tubers out on rhizomes 3-6' from where they were planted every year, they make nice flowers in the late summer.   Decent edible in late fall, or early spring- good for diabetics because on inulin content-no sugar.  Good for a quick hedge, they grow to 6-9' tall, naturalized wildflower beds.   Goldfinches will thank you for the seeds, and they produce lots of biomass for the compost pile with their pithy stalks.

I'm looking for cold-hardy, shorter season varieties fig cuttings or starts as trade, or  S/H expenses.  Pm me if interested.

try hardy chicago

I can help you out with several on your wish list, just PM  or email  me through the forum.

Hi, is sunchokes and comfery still available?

I got some comfrey from someone on this forum. It, too is self-sterile. Was that you?

In the next season after I planted it, I somehow irritated my ankle. I think it was the ligaments. I made a poultice of the comfrey as a last resort before consulting a doctor. Three days later - healed. Comfrey is good stuff.

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  • gorgi
  • · Edited

Sunchoke (aka Jerusalem Artichoke) is NEITHER an Artichoke NOR it did come from Jerusalem!
It is actually a native American hardy weed (related to the Sunflower with smaller yellow flowers) that produces edible tubers (they taste like very mild potatoes).

Two (or 3) years ago I planted 3 tubers I bought from a Whole Foods store. They grew like hell-fire; 10+ foot tall as my garage apex!
(b/c shallow roots; they also tend to get wind-blown over.)

Last fall I researched the subject and found an expert web site that offered quite a few varieties of sunchoke tubers.
One very interesting specimen was a 3-4 foot tall dwarf that I want. I thought to wait till coming spring before buying.
I thought that I (somewhere) noted the web site;  but right now I cannot find it ...  help ...

The real artichoke, is a member of the 'Thistle' family. Known to me early from the old country.
Best to cook the young fist-sized flower buds, tarnished with parley/garlic/etc., and then scrape the 'fleshy-flower-leaves' with your own teeth.
A very, very unique good taste. If impossible, try buying some preserved jars with 'artichoke-hearths'  available from most grocery stores.

Artichoke plants are not hardy. This year I am trying a certain variety from seed that is touted to be grown as an annual if seeded/grown indoors early enough (eg. Feb).

Also I first discovered a very related plant (artichoke) called 'Cardoon'; them plant's fat leaf cooked stalk being touted to taste same as the bud flower ...  experimenting too  ...

Edit: never heard of comfrey before  ... sounds interesting.

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  • gorgi
  • · Edited

Some good and bad news ...

First the good news; after quite a few more googling, I did find the (forgotten) good sunchoke source web-site mentioned in my above post.
It is Oikos Tree Crops located in MI (oikostreecrops.com). They offer quite a variety of sunchoke strains.

Now the bad news; the particular one I was most interested in ('Dwarf SUNRAY Sunchoke'), is currently out-of-stock (:-

Dwarf Sunray Sunchoke

Dwarf Sunray Sunchoke
Dwarf Sunray Sunchoke
 
Heavy Yields-Short Plant-Non Runner-Dense Clusters of Thick Tubers

Selected many years ago by Thompson and Morgan Seed Company, this quasi dwarf sunchoke produces masses of tubers near the central stem.
Easy to grow and certainly one of few that keeps a short profile. Ripens early, the nearly round tubers carry a few knobs but are easy to clean.
This selection has a more pronounced ‘artychoke’ flavor but is mild enough to use raw in salads. Does not spread as fast as others because of its compact habit.
A great selection for containers too. The tubers are produced crowded around a central stem. Available in the fall (mid October) and spring until May in a dormant condition.

I can dig comfrey if anyone is interested. I have been digging it for herbalists in my area. I know several areas to harvest. PM me if interested in buying or trading.

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