Jerusalem Artichokes aka Sunchokes - Clone reproduction

Jerusalem Artichokes are a member of the Sunflower family that has edible tubers that grow similarly to potatoes.  They are regrown, like potatoes, from sprouting tubers - or from tubers you missed from last year!  Because of this, they can be a bit invasive and you can grow them in containers if you are concerned about missing any.

Like their family members of sunflowers, they can grow from 3 to 12 feet high with large leaves and flowers that are 1 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter. They grow well in almost all soil with the exception of very heavy clay soil, but do best in alkaline soil.

Sunchokes are easy to grow from tubers that weigh about 2 oz. and have 2 or 3 sprouts emerging.  Plant them deep, about 3 to 4 inches underground.  They do best when planted in little hills for better water retention and to make harvesting easier.  Plant them in the spring through early summer, and harvest them fall through early winter.

Here is a good link for more information http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch26.html

Egyptian Walking Onions

Egyptian Walking Onions will walk right across your yard and keep giving you onions forever without your help!

In the ground, the Egyptian Walking Onion plant produces a small shallot-like onion which can be harvested. Once harvested, however, the plant will not grow back.  If left in the ground, the onion will produce shoots on which the end will form a cluster of onion bulbs. New shoots and topsets will grow from the onions each year which fall over from the weight in the fall where the new bulb roots and it starts all over again!
 

Egyptian Walking Onions are perennial plants and will grow back each year and yield new and bigger clusters of sets on the top and new onion offsets in the soil - they will divide. During their first year of growth they will not produce topsets. You might see only greens. But don't be disappointed, your Egyptian Walking Onion plants will grow back the following year in full force and produce their first clusters of topsets. Once established, plants may be propagated by division or by planting the sets that grow from the top. Egyptian Walking Onions are extremely hardy plants that grow well in zones 3-9.

See http://www.egyptianwalkingonion.com/ for lots of great information.

 

Squash that don't Cross!

Rambicante (Tomboncino) and Cushaw Squash don't cross with other varieties.  Caleb Warnock plants both of these squashes each year in his garden because he doesn't have to hand pollenate them.  Rambicante is a vining squash that you can eat as a summer squash like you would zucchini, or you can leave it on the vine to harden and store as a winter squash that I hear tastes kind of like Butternut Squash.

No Cross Pollinating Spinach

See page 215-216 of Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth.

New Zealand Spinach is the only member of it's family!  There are only 3 types of New Zealand Spinach, so if you only grow one, you don't have to do anything to keep the seed pure.  It likes the heat, not the cold, so it will grow when other spinach bolts.  You'll want to eat this one cooked, it has a bitter taste if eaten raw.  It reseeds itself, so that makes it kind of invasive, make sure you contain it!

Please read the description in Seed to Seed, and let me know when you come across or plant something interesting.

"Growing Food is Like Printing Your own Money" Ron Finley

This is a great quote from Ron Finley, the Guerilla Gardener from South Central LA.

Back to Eden Wood Chips

BACK TO EDEN WOOD CHIPS

There are many sources of wood chips, this is a good one for large amounts, or share with a friend.  It's just green material.

Tucker Tree Service
John Tucker 801-787-6203
Will need a few days notice before delivery

$5/yard for Back to Eden Chips - these are a mix of sizes 4-6" and there can be plastic that will need to be picked out.  This material will take a very long time to break down because of it's large size.  There is not much variety of size.
$16/yard for 1" composted chips that have been cleaned (no plastic).

John will deliver in a dump truck that holds 20 tons, delivery costs $50-$100 depending on your proximity to Lehi.  Provo is $50, Santaquin is $100.

The Payson City Dump has composted wood chips for $15/yard that only has green material in it.  This is where I get my wood chips from and I love it.  They do run out each year in about June.