From someone who has been actually growing tubers and berries for a few years now, I can assure you that it isn't anywhere near as bad as some may think. I grow close to a dozen different types of tubers and tuberous roots, and probably half a dozen different berries in my yard. They are not only incredibly ea…
From someone who has been actually growing tubers and berries for a few years now, I can assure you that it isn't anywhere near as bad as some may think. I grow close to a dozen different types of tubers and tuberous roots, and probably half a dozen different berries in my yard. They are not only incredibly easy to grow, but taste fantastic! My grocery bill is much lower now than it ever was before inflation started to get real. The vast majority of what I grow is considered "invasive" by the government which is why they're so easy to grow. Some of what is being grown is also considered to be a "super food" which is essential when supply lines break down or food becomes too expensive to buy.
I do agree that a diet of roots and berries is not really all that bad. I am curious which are the "invasive" tubers you grow. I definitely have to try that- or look for them in the wild.
The best is dioscorea alata aka "The Wild Winged Yam." If you live in Florida, they're considered a nuisance. Sometimes you can find them on Amazon or ebay, etsy etc. They're in the kudzu family. There are seven varieties, but only this one is edible and is identified by the vine which grows from left to right. All others grow from right to left. I had one growing outside my back porch last year. It was up on the roof, but then suddenly crept back down and into my porch in a matter of hours. They can grow up to six inches in a day. They can grow a good ten pound tuber in a year. The record for the largest is somewhere around 150 to 200 lbs.
Grocery stores like Save a lot, Publix, etc. have name yams and Malanga blanca, or Malanga lila. The Malanga varieties have foliage that look identical to Elephant ears. These are all excellent for the "stealth gardener" who doesn't want the neighbors eating up his garden.
I hit the local farmer's markets or the organic section of the health food stores, even Walmart if necessary to get any kind of sweet potato they have to grow slips for the leaves as well as the tubers. They're in the same family as morning glories so the flowers are also awesome.
Cassava (aka yuca), Jerusalem artichokes (not from Jerusalem, but taste kind of like an artichoke), and mint potatoes can all be found on Amazon or ebay as well.
You can leave these things in the ground for years until you need them, but I've gotten into the habit of just eating them whenever because I'm too lazy to go to the store anymore. I'm growing everything in poor sandy soil so they're easy to grow and easy to harvest as well.
WW, re: "roots and berries".
From someone who has been actually growing tubers and berries for a few years now, I can assure you that it isn't anywhere near as bad as some may think. I grow close to a dozen different types of tubers and tuberous roots, and probably half a dozen different berries in my yard. They are not only incredibly easy to grow, but taste fantastic! My grocery bill is much lower now than it ever was before inflation started to get real. The vast majority of what I grow is considered "invasive" by the government which is why they're so easy to grow. Some of what is being grown is also considered to be a "super food" which is essential when supply lines break down or food becomes too expensive to buy.
I do agree that a diet of roots and berries is not really all that bad. I am curious which are the "invasive" tubers you grow. I definitely have to try that- or look for them in the wild.
The best is dioscorea alata aka "The Wild Winged Yam." If you live in Florida, they're considered a nuisance. Sometimes you can find them on Amazon or ebay, etsy etc. They're in the kudzu family. There are seven varieties, but only this one is edible and is identified by the vine which grows from left to right. All others grow from right to left. I had one growing outside my back porch last year. It was up on the roof, but then suddenly crept back down and into my porch in a matter of hours. They can grow up to six inches in a day. They can grow a good ten pound tuber in a year. The record for the largest is somewhere around 150 to 200 lbs.
Grocery stores like Save a lot, Publix, etc. have name yams and Malanga blanca, or Malanga lila. The Malanga varieties have foliage that look identical to Elephant ears. These are all excellent for the "stealth gardener" who doesn't want the neighbors eating up his garden.
I hit the local farmer's markets or the organic section of the health food stores, even Walmart if necessary to get any kind of sweet potato they have to grow slips for the leaves as well as the tubers. They're in the same family as morning glories so the flowers are also awesome.
Cassava (aka yuca), Jerusalem artichokes (not from Jerusalem, but taste kind of like an artichoke), and mint potatoes can all be found on Amazon or ebay as well.
You can leave these things in the ground for years until you need them, but I've gotten into the habit of just eating them whenever because I'm too lazy to go to the store anymore. I'm growing everything in poor sandy soil so they're easy to grow and easy to harvest as well.