Water Chestnut Harvest & Storage 2016

Hi folks. Harvested this seasons crop of water chestnuts & prepared them for storage during the week & thought a few friends might like to have a closer look.
These crunchy little morsels are used in a lot of Asian dishes including some of our favourite Chinese & Thai meals. Some of the smaller corms from this batch have been put aside for next seasons crop.
Subscribing to our family here on Rob's Backyard Farming Channel is as easy as clicking the link below,
kzbin.info_c...
Would be great for you to come along & say "G'Day" when we post a clip.
You can also find us on Patreon & various social media platforms where mini updates on the aquaponics, chooks, worms, wicking bed gardens & other small tidbits are posted daily.
www.patreon.com/RobsBackyardFarm
Bitsouttheback
www.bitsouttheback.tumblr.com/
bits_out_the_back @bits_out_the_back
www.pinterest.com/bitsouttheback/
RobsUrbanFarm @RobsUrbanFarm
Have a great one everyone.
Rob.

[@Lex5576]

When I go to the Chinese restaurant, sometimes I like ordering nothing but water chestnuts, baby corn, and bamboo shoots mixed together and cooked in brown sauce. It's so delicious.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Now that's one dish I'd love as well. 👍 Might just add a prawn or 2 as well though. 😉 Cheers Lex.

[@terryhopp645]

Just needs rice

[@fgoogleinthea7475]

You are weak. Just make it yourself at home.

[@WonderingAboutThat]

I wish these were grown commercially in the US. I love water chestnuts. I may have to give this a try one day. Thanks for sharing.

[@wannakhiandee3308]

thanks for showing how to grow this is my first time to see where to get this chestnut even if have eaten for long time.

[@tom_something]

Velcro sounds like such a good idea. Very weather resistant.

[@karenhayes523]

I really enjoyed this video!! Thank you so much for doing this! God bless you and your crop!!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks Karen. Cheers & have a top one.

[@hannahmiller3403]

Thanks this is a great encouraging walk through of your process. I'm planning to try out growing these lil guys here in New York state this year and will try to build a warm microclimate around them so they can feel more at home :)

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hope they're growing well for you Hannah. 🌱🌱

[@elizabethveness7340]

thanks for the clip. i like that you show if things don't quite work out like you hoped. you give me great ideas. these water chestnuts might be good for water loving Melbourne gardens lol

[@RobsAquaponics]

They do like a bit of warmth but think they'd do well down there in the right spot Elizabeth. Cheers.

[@goodrootshorticulture3240]

2 corms to 200 or so, don't beat yourself up too much. Another great clip mate, always enjoy your clips. Keep up the good work.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Is all a learning curve so am not really complaining ;) Cheers & have a great one.

[@mieletea]

Thank you! This was very informative!

[@johnniegilchrist4472]

always a pleasure to listen to you mate, planted my chestnuts two weeks ago in a fridge ...and one in styro box... always soaking in a pool...?

[@australiangetaways]

Very informative. Thoroughly enjoyed watching till the end. Thanks 🙏

[@RobsAquaponics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnnyt3972]

Fascinating!

[@EndlessWeekendlife]

What would be really cool is seeing you and Greg do a co-lab! Garden food, cooking and the Ol taste test!

[@RobsAquaponics]

:D I did send Greg some of our home made curry paste a while back.

[@50shadesofgreen]

great harvest of water chestnuts !!!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks Mate. Starting to think I may need another pond to fit more water [plants in ;) Cheer & all the best.

[@OffGridAussiePrepper]

Absolutely f*#king outstanding video on water chesnuts, I been wanting to see this for a few years now and finally seen it, thanks for including the harvest and storage prep and I do love my Thai stir frys with water chessnuts. I would love to see u planting more in a future vid if possible ???? ^5 on this 1

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi there & glad you enjoyed it. Will be doing a planting clip for next seasons crop, Will probably be in about a months time 👍 Cheers mate & have a great one.

[@harrychung433]

Thanks for the harvest and tips on the water chestnuts, Rob. Good idea for splitting the pouch with Velcro, for easy removal. You may want to sew on a couple of snap clips on short straps across the cut. That will keep the plant from opening the slit when it grows to large.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Nice idea Harry 👍 Even a few rounds of twine might help to do the trick. Have thought about doing the same with some of the larger ones I grow sweet potatoes in. Cheers mate & thanks again. 😊

[@landrylee6207]

@@RobsAquaponics actually the Chinese water chestnut need growing in water，its very easy to grow.

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@landrylee6207 Yep. I grew the ones I showed in this video in water.

[@lifeinthailand]

Mugsy Jeff kicked your ass on the water chestnuts....lol Not a bad harvest over all, The 2nd pouch was very good.

[@RobsAquaponics]

:-D He certainly did. 👍 Probably helps that he planted more than 2 corms ;-) Think I might be going back to using a tub for next seasons crop here as there won't be enough room in the small pond for the number I want to grow. Cheers Paul.

[@munirahbakar4123]

Looking at past year's harvest, this year's looks amazing! Then you see Jeff Heriot's harvest...

[@RobsAquaponics]

:-D Jeff had a great crop this season. I think the cow manure helped. Cheers.

[@lornakurien7962]

Water chestnuts and coconut milk make the most delicious Thai dessert called Tim Grob.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Shall have to check that out. Thanks Lorna.

[@eveny119]

Nice, I always enjoy seeing something grown that I had no idea how it was grown. Was going to ask to see you peel it but then you did, ha ha So I'll ask how long does it take from planting to harvest?

[@RobsAquaponics]

It was probably 10 or so months from the corm is started in a small pot until I pulled them from the pouch👍 Hope to have a planting clip posted after this seasons are started of.. Cheers, Rob.

[@inarithiel8504]

Thanks for this. I'm just about to harvest my first crop, though having seen your videos, I think I planted them too densely - 6 or 8 corms in a 44L tub - so they'll probably be tiny. Oh, well, it's all a learning experience, isn't it? :)

[@RobsAquaponics]

It is all a learning experience. I have found when I over crowded them I still got some large ones but nowhere near as many as in the second pouch in this lot. Cheers & happy harvesting. Rob.

[@rebeccamasangcay9559]

i love those ❤️ yummy

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks :)

[@jett888]

is there a reason to not put the chestnut starters in a plastic planter? I woudl think, with the big holes at the bottom it still allows for water to come up.

[@_mylastname]

New sub!!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks for subbing!

[@jett888]

is there a problem with eating the dark outter skin after it's been cleaned? I have a water Ozonator i could sit them in for a while for cleaning.

[@nehajaihind]

Thank you for the video. We call in Singhara in India/Bharat

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks for that. 😁 Have a great one.

[@bryantchan6168]

i love eating them thankyou so much i really failed at growing them

[@RobsAquaponics]

There's always next season Bryant ;) Hope to have the planting clip up as soon as they're planted out. Cheers.

[@sandynystrom5344]

great job Rob I have never tied growing them but Im try growing them see how I do

[@RobsAquaponics]

Nice one Sandy. As long as you have a nice warm temperate climate & can keep the water up to them you should get a nice harvest 👍 Would like to know how they go for you if you have a crack at them. Rob.

[@sandynystrom5344]

keeping them temp warm is not a problem here in az lolz

[@RobsAquaponics]

+Sandy Nystrom :D I guess not after talking to a mate that was born there. ;)

[@PauloPinto_AquaponiaCoyote]

Very good Bob, i had never seen water chestnuts ... it was the first time. Place Taioba (Xanthosoma violaceum) on your system, a delicious and has many vitamins !!!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks Paulo. Have had a few folks suggest I should try some but don't have the room for it at the moment. Have seen it grow wild next to the river near where I grew up but am not sure if it's been removed as some class it as a weed here. Cheers mate & hope all's well.

[@PauloPinto_AquaponiaCoyote]

Ok Bob, I would send you a root taioba ... the problem is sending that must be expensive ... US$ 30,00... you're QUEENSLAND - AUSTRALIA ok?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Yep, we're in Queensland & thanks for the thought mate. Like I said it grows wild here so could find some if need be I think. If you were to send some it wouldn't make it through our customs check I think. They police plants coming into Australia very tightly. Thanks again for thinking of me Paulo. 😊👍 Cheers mate.

[@PauloPinto_AquaponiaCoyote]

ok, tks

[@EdiblePlants]

Cool deal

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers mate. Is nice to grow a "delicacy" or 2 like these fellers. Hope all's well on the Homestead mate.

[@deyvoimbiri1162]

The only word that i was understand is when he say “kangkung” jahjahjahjah

[@bigunone]

OK I was checking out your potato peeler it looks much different than those we buy in the states. Sometime if you can show the sharp side or brand name LOL. As always an informative video Charlie

[@ToastAndJellyfish]

Really? I live in the States and have used that style for years. I grew up with a traditional French (fixed blade) peeler and when that finally broke apart at the handle, we bought one like this. Anyway, I paused the video on some shots of the profile and the blade, and it looks to be your garden variety swivel peeler. Are you more familiar with the Y-shaped peelers? People seem to gravitate to either one or the other.

[@RobsAquaponics]

The peeler is from a Germany company called Westmark as I understand it. They're not common here either & we have to buy them from a commercial kitchen supplier in West Brisbane. Here's their US website if it helps any westmark.us.com/ We like it as we have both lefties & right handed family members & you can swap the blade around to suit whoever is using it. Hope that helps some 👍

[@RobsAquaponics]

This one is a Westmark Pomfix with reversible blades 👍 Works well for us as we have both lefties & right handed in our family. Cheers.

[@bigunone]

Thanks Charlie

[@RobsAquaponics]

No problem.Have a great one :)

[@joansmith9072]

I would like to hear more about how you setup your pond to grow the water chestnuts. You said you had fish in there. Did you put an aerator or some kind of filter in there? Are those mosquito fish?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi Joan. Will be doing a planting clip on a few months time I think 👍 The fish are a native gudgeon that will look after the mosquito larvae/wrigglers. I do have a pump that circulates the water & adds a small amount of air as the water splashes around. Cheers & hope all's well with you. Rob.

[@1radarghost]

You inspired me to grow some here in Northern California. When I harvested them and went to eat them they were chalky and spongy and not crisp and sweet. Ever had that happen to you?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Were they firm when you harvested them? I find keeping them in water in the fridge is the best way to store them. They also handle being frozen as well once peeled & chopped up. .

[@1radarghost]

@@RobsAquaponics Due to issues, I just started harvesting them from the containers. I grew in three different ones and they all have a chalky texture. Maybe harvesting too late?

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@1radarghost It might be they were left in too long. I noticed a few were spongy when I've harvested them in the past, mainly the large ones too.

[@JohnWayne-hb8tk]

I would be interested in knowing how well the water chestnuts would do if growing them directly in a solid media bed such as Hydroton or crushed shale as opposed to the soil and bag method you used in the video....

[@RobsAquaponics]

Have grown them in the aquaponics & they did OK. Didn't grow as large as the soil plants though but that could of been due to a few different factors like time & available nutrients. Would like to try it again at some point. Cheers.

[@PankajDoharey]

OK So you have to boil them first dont peel them. Just boil them the peel with come out easily after boiling. And if you want to preserve them keep them in the peel.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Tried that & it didn't work.

[@Shadowturtle85]

Hi Rob, if i plant couple water chestnut in a closed container like a kiddie pool, do i have to change out the water every week or something?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi there. The water just sits in the tub the whole time like it would in a natural pond or bog 👍 Normally a 30cm/1ft or deeper container is used as they can send corms down fairly far. I like to water ours until there is about 15mm/½" of water over the top of the soil then let that get used up & the top dry out for a few days before adding any more water so any mosquito larvae can die off. Hope that helps you out some. Rob.

[@fgoogleinthea7475]

This seems like a lot of effort, is it worth it?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Plant them & forget, other than to water them that is 😉 Fresh definitely taste better than canned & they store really well frozen whole once peeled. Just used some in a curry from last seasons harvest & they were just as crunchy as fresh.

[@BenjasUberHobby]

Nice harvest :) How wet does the soil need to be to grow chestnuts?

[@RobsAquaponics]

They need to be constantly wet to get a decent harvest so that's why most will grow them on the edge of dams or in ponds 👍 Thanks & cheers mate :)

[@BenjasUberHobby]

Ment water chestnuts lol but i see you figured that out :) I have been thinking of planting them for a bit but have never tried. If I get them planted I will have to PM you the harvest video :) Thanks for all your time and advice :)

[@Brianjpham]

Benja's Uber 1337 Hobby I

[@kevinsmellls]

I've seen places just boil them to remove the skins. The meat shrivels up and detaches from the outside and you can just crack them open. A lot less work than peeling if you don't mind a par cooked water chestnut. Not sure if it's the same variety you grow though

[@munirahbakar4123]

I think that method only works with regular chestnuts, not water chestnuts. Water chestnuts don't have a hard shell that cracks like the regular chestnuts, they need to be peeled. But then again I could be wrong, and water chestnuts could be boiled to remove the skin (just that I personally haven't heard it being done that way).

[@siren858]

I'm in Tasmania and am lucky enough to have a chestnut tree in my backyard. Boiling in water is a way of removing shells from European chestnuts - not subtropical water chestnuts - and I don't recommend it if you want tree chestnuts for anything other than soup.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hey Kevin. These Chinese Water Chestnuts need peeling as +Debra Manskey & +Munirah Bakar pointed out below. Is no big drama really & using a good quality peeler makes quick work of it. Never tried the tree chestnuts myself but have seen them for sale in the shops. Cheers mate & have a great one.

[@RobsAquaponics]

I tried the boiling method a few years back & it did nothing with the water chestnuts. Is easier enough to use the peeler I think ;) Thanks & cheers.

[@kevinsmellls]

Ah I see. Thanks for the clarification all. Cheers bruv!

[@davidk8699]

You mentioned using the small chestnuts to seed next year's crop. Is that a good idea? Shouldn't you be using the best ones, so that you improve the strength of your stock?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi David. I remember reading a commercial grower say that he kept the medium ones to plant out & he sold the larger ones as that's where the money was. There was also an Aussie Gov page that went into great detail about it but all I can find is a WA one now that doesn't go into great detail. I'm not sure if it was there or elsewhere that I read that the smaller ones if left in the bed should grow as large as any of the others if there is enough nutrients & the season is long enough. I've always kept the smaller ones to start off the next season's crop & from the look of it I'm still getting a decent amount of large corms. Think I can do much better though ;) Cheers mate.

[@PaulAnguiano]

In seed propagation crops you want to keep the largest for reseeding to maintain the genetic line. In a crop like this they're all genetically identical to the parent, so even the smallest corm has the same genes that made the largest corms from the previous crop. There's no advantage to planting the larger corms, except that they have more energy at the start of the growing season.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks Paul 👍😊

[@synwill1]

How do you store the water chestnut corns that you plan to plant next spring?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I think the same as you would for ginger and turmeric, cool dark spot & maybe buried in some dry sand or coconut coir. I have them sprout from the leftover soil from the previous crop a lot of the time. That's how this seasons soil tub has been started. 😉

[@chrisfry7915]

Tasty in spinach dip. :)

[@RobsAquaponics]

I can see that being tasty Chris. You have a recipe you could recommend? Cheers mate.

[@chrisfry7915]

allrecipes.com/recipe/22617/best-spinach-dip-ever/ Use your fresh spinach and water chestnuts! any kind of bread works fine. Rye is great or a 12 grain.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks mate. Might have a crack at that with some of the ones I've kept aside. Cheers.

[@chrisfry7915]

Great for gatherings!

[@SukhwinderKlotaKotkapua-4336]

👌

[@shannonandjanicegoodridge7062]

Rob could you tell me more about the bag you used to plant the chestnuts in?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi Shannon & Goodridge. They are called Root Pouches & are made from recycled water bottles. There are BPA free so OK to grow food in. Being made out of fabric they also allow the roots to be air pruned which helps the plant healthier in small containers unlike plastic pots where the roots circle the container & the plant becomes root bound. I have some more information on our blog site if that helps some. www.bitsouttheback.net/p/growing-with-root-pouches.html Sorry I missed you message. Have been catching up on quite a few that slipped through the cracks this week. Cheers & have a great one. Rob.

[@shannonandjanicegoodridge7062]

Thanks Rob very interesting. ill look into for next seasons water chestnuts.

[@lis819]

So, what can you do with the very small corms?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I use them to plant out the next batch or just compost them.

[@davemccormickmusic]

where can i get corms for planting?..... i'm in America

[@RobsAquaponics]

Probably best to check online. Chinese water chestnut's botanical name is Eleocharis dulcis if that helps.

[@donnykiofetzis5775]

yer don't put kang tong next season, tri something else nothing worse than been disappointed by the same thing over and over your very funny Rob.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Haven't grown either for a few years now. Will be popping some in next sumer though. Cheers.

[@timothyandrewausten]

I was trying to figure out what these *pouches* were in *Australia* , then I realized... 😧

[@TimeLapseRich]

could water chestnuts be grown in an aqua/hydroponic set up?

[@ChrisPBacon-rs9iv]

everything but mushrooms can be grown hyrdro aqua airponicly

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi Rich. Have grown them in the aquaponic in the past but they didn't grow as large as the soil ones. Didn't have a real serious attempt at growing them in theer though so I might have to revisit growing them aquaponically in the future. Cheers.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Have seen folks suggest that some fungi like Mycorrhizal fungi may be beneficial in the system but don't think they will make much of a meal for us ;) Cheers.

[@Sanderly1820]

What are cancon

[@RobsAquaponics]

Kang Kong is also known as Chinese water spinach 👍 It's a leafy green that grows on the sides of creeks & rivers.

[@MoviesDanceMusic]

i like kengkong😅

[@RobsAquaponics]

So do we. :)

[@johngta7172]

good try, but disappointing result- probably try sweet potato instead

[@RobsAquaponics]

Have had better & worse. They are a fav additive to many dishes we make due to their crunch & flavour so will always have some on the grow I think.

[@khalilcaldwell6802]

The title of this video should be: How To Be Negative

[@khalilcaldwell6802]

And: How To Have Things Fiddling Around In a Nasty Australian Beard While on Camera

[@RobsAquaponics]

??? Not quite sure what you mean. I like to show dud crops as well as good ones because that's life. Oh & that's a grey hair in my beard you numpty. 🤣🤣