Chinese artichoke (Stachys affinis)
Chinese atichoke(Stachys affinis)
The Chinese artichoke is a herbaceous perennial plant widely cultivated in many parts of the word for it's tasty little tubers.
Chinese artichokes are in the same family of plants as our garden mint, which the plant resembles but not when it comes to taste. Equally easy to grow though they will do well is pretty much any soil and even a bit of shade, but if you give them some organic matter and sunshine you will be increase the size of their delicious, nutty little tubers which are gathered in the autumn and can be eaten raw or cooked lightly in stir fries and the like.
If you can give them a patch where they can be left, you can still take as many little tubers as you want through the autumn then leave them to come up next spring when they are ready, as it's just about impossible to remove them all! Just give them a good mulch now and then and leave them to it...