Huw's Edible Perennial Plant of the Year | 2024

[@vinn7817]

Forget the Emmys or the Oscars. This is the award ceremony we've been waiting for.

[@JHaven-lg7lj]

Absolutely! And I’m adding two plants to my “Add to the garden” list!

[@CWorgen5732]

It is 3 am and my sleep schedule is entirely thrown off because I'm on holiday, but... I'm saving this to watch in the morning as a reward for trying to sleep.

[@HuwRichards]

Ohh goodness well hope you can get some sleep so you can find out the winner😉 💤

[@taiduong3575]

Mashua sound like the plant to grow this year. It is 6 am in u.s east coast.

[@sherylwoodham8152]

How spicy is it when cooked? How spicy are the leaves in salad? Can you mash them like potatoes?

[@LearnPermaculture]

Yep! Machua does well here in Cornwall too. The first year I stored some tubers over the winter to replant the following spring. I needn't have bothered, I missed some tubers and they happily overwintered and grew again in the spring. Ours doesn't flower though... not yet anyway. Perhaps because it's at the bottom of a terrace and gets mainly morning sun only. Ours are also in a pretty deep bed, so not at ground level where frost is a bit heavier.

[@shaunaburton7136]

Soapwort was an amazing in my garden. Beautiful pink flowers and easy to care for.

[@onamactavish9352]

Tried growing a few Gigantes beans this year and was astonished in how much lovely big buttery beans the plant produced. Will grow much more next season

[@HuwRichards]

A fantastic crop indeed! Mine could have done with a little more warmth and sun this year, but still respectable and will be enjoyed in stews and casseroles over winter ☺️

[@oldtavernfarm]

So agree! We started growing greek Gigante beans 3 years ago, and wowzers. Never one problem, survive light frosts, pop up reliably every year, even in our cold spring 5b zone!

[@kareharpies]

Huw, I think if you have any footage of cooking mashua then you should upload it (maybe in 'shorts' format) so people can get a sense of how to use this rare plant.

[@MYT-Ixe]

Not good for Environment to plant this here 😢

[@maryannemckay3606]

@@MYT-Ixe…where do u live please!..🙏

[@mariaharding5998]

This last year I have finally moved to a house with a huge garden in Wales. x The best thing I grew this year was Jerusalem artichokes. I cannot believe how many I got from planting 6 small tubers. I am now in the process of pickling some of them. Love the look of your Mashua xx

[@helenalderson6608]

In my area (10a), I've had fun growing yacòn. Their tubers are delightfully crunchy, juicy and sweet. Their tubers aren't reproductive, but grow from an easily reproduced rhizome. After digging up, I just replant the rhizome for another season

[@jakoblarok]

i just went back and watched your oka video from 8 years ago... WOW... blast from the past!

[@PerenniallyRed]

Yeay Mashua! I've been growing this for a few years now. It's a favourite of mine and I love telling people about it. Cultivariable have a great webpage with info on Mashua. The tubers aren't for me. Too much like horseradish in flavour when raw and a bit like marzipan (but not in a pleasant way) once cooked. Worth grating some and mixing it into potato rosti. Others will love the taste, but I much prefer the peppery leaves and the flowers which taste a bit like sweet lettuce to me. Some of the leaves grow big enough to use them to wrap around things. A little bit like vine leaves. Unfortunately, my plants have suffered with blackfly the past 2 years. I'm sure it's down to the soil getting too dry eventhough I mulch and water them. Good to see Mashua being promoted ☘️

[@SK-lt1so]

Sorrel Zone 5b, partial sun The plant comes back year after year, despite horrific winters. No bug issues, the deer will nibble the leaves. Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Requires no care.

[@brigittecrombez]

maschua is new for me, I am inspired, I am going to try that one. The korean mint is also on my wishlist now. My top productive plant is my summer raspberry tulameen. So much production.

[@SueLaverack]

My autumn raspberries were very late this year and they flopped. I think they are not getting enough light where they are so I need to move them - which may be easier said than done! One Apricot tree in the greenhouse died but the other brings me great joy as does the peach. Thank you for suggesting korean mint and mashua - I will add those to my list.

[@HuwRichards]

Yes they do need a good amount of sun! Oh you're going to love growing those two!:)

[@myslicechannel]

Our back garden is tiny so I grow autumn raspberries lined up along the shed. The mix of colours is amazing! Also love my kale - it never fails me. Runner beans were great this year but my humble champion is the potato (charlotte and desiree).

[@ILHhandcrafted]

Pineapple sage has been my favourite this year! Incredible to use in tea, grows vigorously with little care and the flower nectar is so so delicious - sweeter than honeysuckle and the pollinators love it 😍

[@larrystrayer8336]

The mashua segment brought back a flood of memories. As a young chap in Peru tagging along with my father. I remember eating this several times. Sometimes the flowers in a salad. Others as mashed. It will be on my must plant list 2025.

[@julianadelion5497]

Yes. Me too. Sound prolific

[@CreaturesThird]

For me I’d say Hibiscus roselle was a great experience. I was shocked at how well it handled our heat and was somewhat tolerant of dry periods. Flowers, leaves, and calyces are edible and it produced very well. Excited to learn more about the mashua, love nasturtiums so I feel like it would be fun to try! Thanks!

[@tilosagulp6534]

This year's winner is Nepeta for me. I make a wonderful, citrusy tea from the leaves, it flowers all year, and bees love it too.

[@knittingEillets]

For me it was my "autumn" raspberries. They started producing rapsberries by the mid/ end of june up to the end of september! I could not believe my eyes and did expect them to be ready earliest by mid/end august! They were soooo delicious.

[@anniinglucksdorf960]

Do you know the name of the variety? My problem with autumn raspberries so far is that I have not found a variety that tastes good to me. Most are much more watery then the summer raspberries.

[@janetbarkwith]

We live in zone 3, winters sometimes below -40C, often -35C, hot summers, horrendous gales in spring, winter and fall, and in an area classified as semi-desert. Sorrel is amazing here! Also I would suggest lovage - no care at all; 6ft tall, nice yellow umbel flowers, tasty seeds,especially in home made bread; young shoots can be used as celery and young leaves make a tasty soup.

[@willaharlatt4862]

my favourite this year is strigoli..........its in the silene family, is a perennial here even in cold canada and makes wonderful pesto from spring until fall

[@joelalain]

it's true that the exciting part each year is trying new things and seeing them grow, flower, taste, etc. i tried for the first time this year lemongrass (an absolute surprise), artichokes, ginger, amaranth, quinoa, leeks, dinosaur kale, red brussel sprouts, runner beans. i'm already thinking about next year!

[@PattonScr]

lovely vid, thank you Huw ❤

[@bartdebremme1901]

Chayote. Beautiful climber, massive harvest, slugs not as interested in as in cucumbers (take a variety with spines)

[@Marra7777]

I tried those asturian tree cabbages you mentioned. Great growers in Cumbria and bounced back after an massive attack by the caterpillars.

[@susanshardlow1881]

Machua sounds brilliant for next year. This year I had a bumper crop of potatoes which grew from the ones left in the ground from the year before. Similar to the nasturtiums. Thank you Huw.

[@trenomas1]

My perennial champion is Shasta Daisy. Solid, productive, tasty, and won't overgrow a garden.

[@WeAreAllOneNature]

What part do you eat? Any type of shasta?

[@trenomas1]

@@WeAreAllOneNature I've looked at a few daisies and they were edible. I suspect most daisies are, but please look them up first. Shasta daisies both feral and cultivated have edible leaves and flowers. I harvested a flush of leaves(30%) in spring and flowers(100%) at their peak every year from my brand new patches. Over time they grew in lusher and softer than any other patch I've ever seen cultivated. I suspect this is an adaptation to foraging but I can't say much more than that. Treat them well and they will treat you well.

[@WeAreAllOneNature]

@@trenomas1 Thanks. Great answer.

[@maryannemckay3606]

@@trenomas1🙏…l live in the subtropics in Oz and they do well here too!

[@snailboy5610]

The Korean mint looks good. Think I will try that one. Autumn raspberries are the plant I recommend to people who don’t grow veg as it just so easy, tastes wonderful and is high value. My plant would tree cabbage. I’ve been really pleased with it

[@marnixoudega6948]

It seems that Mashua affects the testosterone production negatively . In the Andes, men tried to avoid eating the tubers, but the women that prepared the meals for the men put it in anyway, because they believed it prevented their men from cheating.

[@ironmaiden3751]

😂 And then there is this one "Incan warriors believed Mashua had anaphrodisiac properties and would consume the tuber to focus on becoming a better warrior rather than thinking about their families and wives back home."

[@1CharlieMike]

I've gone straight out and bought Korean Mint from the Incredible Vegetables website - thanks for the recommendation! I also picked up Welsh Onions and Red Plantain to go in a bed I just prepared alongside, so looking forward to testing these out next year!

[@HuwRichards]

You are most welcome 😁 Happy growing!

[@shinecrystalycnb908]

I have no idea all this flowers was edible,,, or maybe i don't even know them 😂😂😂,,, awww so lovely to watch ur garden ❤❤❤❤❤

[@KK-FL]

We have a “weed” here in Florida called Florida betony with a similar looking edible root. It grows all of my yard and the bees go crazy for the flowers so of course I let it grow!

[@cathrynbrown4224]

Slug free! Gave up the garden in despair this season when the slugs devasted nearly everything. Looking forward to buying some Machua off you and testing them in windier conditions (a mile down the road from you).

[@evertonfrancis640]

Thank you!!

[@yarnybart5911]

It looks similar to jerusalem artichokes. Which is also invasive, very hardy and delicious. Does it also give you awful wind?

[@oldtavernfarm]

Fascinating!!! I've never heard of this plant! Will definitely be in touch for a supply! (Hopefully you ship to the US) Also a question; how does this tuber store? Can I cure and store like potatoes (if you have that data yet)? The flower and foliage really remind me of a wild perennial we have on our homestead property; jewelweed, which I use in my herbal remedies. Btw, my year-on perenial winner is elderberry. Parts of it are toxic, but handled correctly, the flowers and fully ripe berries make wonderful syrups, cordials, and other berry-based food products. Thanks Huw!!

[@keithomelvena2354]

Stores similar to oca. If your garden doesn't suffer extreme cold, it'll come again from any little tuber you missed harvesting.

[@erkansaid8081]

Tru dat about tomatoes Huw. I never even used to eat tomatoes until I started growing them!

[@topaz3468]

My new discovery is fejoa, or pineapple guava shrubs. This is a separate species from the guava tree. I planted 4 in zone 9b in the states, and all are doing lovely so far. They are in a front yard hedge in a neighborhood (not a rural area). If I remember correctly, the flower petals will be edible as well as the fruit, however, my understanding is that it will take several years before it starts fruiting.

[@m2mouse763]

I grew Mashua for the first time this year, starting with three tubers in containers and now I‘m even more excited to harvest them. By the way they didn‘t flower this season.

[@v.n.covarrubias6741]

I'm from South America, specifically Chile, and I don't know why I've never heard of mashua.

[@more__plz]

Any agastache is a go or it’s perennial for me ❤️‍🔥

[@fwhelan794]

New Zealand spinach!

[@taiduong3575]

Good morning. Huw.

[@HuwRichards]

Good morning! 🙂

[@ren8240]

Goodnight Huw! 🌏😴🌌🌜

[@HuwRichards]

Nos da🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@mfr58]

I look forwards to getting some Mashua when you make it available.....

[@stelaroibas3192]

Hello Huw! I would like to ask you both about mashua, and see if you would have some information related to oxalate acids in the ocas, and see with you if the mashua would have them too. I incorporated the to our potager this year for first time, but I heard after that the oca could be a negative food for people with joints issues which is my case 😕 so any help you could have about mashua would be much appreciated. Thanks so much in advance!

[@akelei6884]

Huw, thanks for this video. Please, can you tell me the variety of your apricot? Never heard of mashua, but I will try it. Greatings from Germany 👩🏻‍🌾

[@anomietoponymie2140]

How do you spell that apricot variety, robarda? Roberta? I can't find it on Mathews' site.

[@anne-mariemarsh4479]

Just found it on line. Robada. 😊

[@RawLondonGardener]

Top video

[@GSDsforever]

"......not moral support," Made me laugh!

[@HuwRichards]

I'm glad you enjoyed that🤣

[@hoosierpioneer]

Me too!

[@marcuspowell2510]

Raintree Nursery carries it but they are out of stock at the moment. Looks to be a lot cheaper than eBay.

[@TraceyHume]

Please could you confirm the name of the apricot you purchased from Frank Matthews. Thanks

[@MischiefAndMore]

I think it's Apricot Robada but he'll have to confirm.

[@HuwRichards]

Robada indeed

[@TraceyHume]

@@MischiefAndMore thank you

[@NinaCartmell]

How would mashua grow alongside sweetcorn???

[@MischiefAndMore]

Trying to source mashua without success. Are you going to be able to ship to Europe or will it only be available within the UK?

[@julianadelion5497]

Huw. Did you do a feature of raspberries? I'll look trough your stuff

[@lksf9820]

Quercusedibles have all of these and many more weird and wonderful edible perenials for sale in the UK.

[@marcuskirby7200]

I have never grown Mashua and am thinking of giving it a go, one question: do you get much trouble with aphids like you sometimes do on Nastutium?

[@Stangya888]

I’m planning my permaculture garden here in the island of Madeira. Zone 9-10, 550 meters above the Atlantic. Just within the banana limit. I’m frenetically trying to find a place to buy Nashua tubers…🙄

[@alilaunder362]

Just wondering if the korean mint is the same as normal mint and roots become invasive? Same question for the mashua, are they well behaved plants or do they need containing?

[@HuwRichards]

Korean Mint does not become invasive, and for mashua it only becomes invasive if you spread the tubers through the soil. But you can easily get rid of them if they pop up :)

[@zoewhite7705]

Is that “Korean mint” agastache? Looks like it but haven’t heard it called Korean mint before.

[@gomae7299]

Yes it is Agastache rugosa, in Korean 방아 (Bang-Ah). But In cooler and wetter climates, it does not do well. I believe what Huw mentioned is a hybrid (with a European species) and he called it a remnant of Korean mint. I have this hybrid and it thrives as Huw described.

[@zoewhite7705]

@ Thank you! Interesting. I have a few different agastaches here in Scotland. They grow well but don’t always make it through the winter if it’s a very wet one - seems they can take cold, but not cold AND wet together. There’s always lots of seedlings coming up in spring though so it doesn’t matter too much!

[@EveEmshwiller]

It turns out that I've been growing this "Korean mint" for years, misidentified. When I moved in here, there was a plant labeled Agastache foeniculum, or Anise Hyssop, which is native in my area (Wisconsin, USA). For years I thought I was growing this native plant and spread the seeds around, until I finally learned that what I have been growing is actually Agastache rugosa, not A. foeniculum. They are quite similar, and the bees seem to like the non-native one just as well. As @zoewhite7705 says, there are always lots of seedlings volunteering, so when the plants don't survive the winter, there are still plenty of plants around.

[@kathryncatlett3829]

Where can I get the seeds for these 4? Im in Zone 4. Thanks!

[@قناةطبخالمغربيالاصيل]

مسيرة ورفقة🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴💚💚🌹🌹🌹🌹👍🏼👍🏼🩷🩷🩷🩷

[@happyhovsehomestead5354]

I am in California/zone 7/8. It gets very hot here, highs above 80F between April-October. And above 100F between June-Oct. do you think the Tubers, Mashua? Will grow here? Also, can I grow a plant from a tuber if I find some in an Asian market?

[@lelandshanks3590]

Where did u get seeds of the Korean mint?

[@ThreeRunHomer]

Is Mashua at a kudzu level of aggressiveness, or something lesser?

[@Terri-n6w]

When do thd leaves die back in Wales? (Mashua)

[@HuwRichards]

@@Terri-n6w first hard frost

[@jensissons5709]

Dahlia tubers are edible and prolific .

[@maryannemckay3606]

I have never eaten tho’….how do u cook and what does it taste like please?…🙏

[@mojorising1]

❤

[@snailboy5610]

How much sun does the maschua (sp) need?

[@HuwRichards]

Grows well in partial shade, but best in a sunny position

[@joanneward6746]

I'd worry about it running off and taking over the hedgerows

[@HuwRichards]

I wouldn't worry at all about that, but if you are then just grow them in a big tub, they do very well there🌿

[@joanneward6746]

@@HuwRichards thanks

[@thecsslife]

Apparently, Mashua reduces testosterone levels, testical size and sperm count in rats.

[@HuwRichards]

Could definitely do with fewer rats!

[@HuwRichards]

And human side I agree best not eaten in copious amounts, here and there like everything is ok

[@keithomelvena2354]

Mashua. Very attractive plant. I used to have a couple of provenances decades ago.lost them after a shift. Never really took to them as food. I remember they smelled strongly of almond. Probably explained by the isocyanates contained. I seem to remember advice not to eat them raw? I see someone else heard the rumours about their side effects. Inca generals used them to make their army forget about their wives apparently. 😲

[@marjoleinvandenbos6657]

“Not moral support”… 🤣

[@MYT-Ixe]

Mashua etc. is not native and no source of food for local insects and pollinators 😢think of it!

[@HuwRichards]

I could say the same for potatoes:)

[@MYT-Ixe]

@@HuwRichardsnot true anymore!

[@MYT-Ixe]

@@HuwRichardsit is not right anymore , because potatoes are local since 16th century. But if so, it would be whataboutism and does not make it ans better..

[@HuwRichards]

@@MYT-Ixe All I would say is there are many non native plants that I grow, and whilst most of my garden has plants that are good for insects and pollinators. Heck I put Korean Mint in partly because it was so good for them, mashua offers other benefits such as creating shade or making use of vertical spaces. This, as I said at the start, is very biased because it's my choices, so it really doesn't matter if I picked that or a cactus at the end of the day because no one else will get impacted by it;)

[@MYT-Ixe]

You are right in concern of your garden! 😊 But if you if you recommend something, many people will imitate you. That is the problem and your responsibility for nature.