mosiah parkman

Well around here the only "Rouge" plants are weeds, and they will out-compete almost any domestic plant (including Comfrey I'll bet).
I started using a new method of gardening Not weeding...LOL, so far during the dry season currently it is working OK. I cut most of the weeds with a weed whacker then spread some mulch around as much as possible and planted rye-grass, alfalfa, and clover in the paths. So far it is suppressing most of the typical weeds we get, but I still have some weeds in the beds.

Brenda Groth wrote:has anyone eaten them? I know they use them to break up soils and let them rot, but what about eating them? are they mild, strong, ?

They taste great in curries and stews!

I love watching Quail, such an entertaining bird. We used to have some wild California Quail living in our bushes around the house. Every year they would have 1-2 litters of babies per mother, normally 2 families per area.

I think the idea of a paddock system is interesting, but clipping the wings seems cumbersome and unnecessary. Quails only seem to fly when in distress, otherwise they are happy running around. You should probably put a lid on your paddock if you want to "keep" the birds, otherwise you are just feeding wild birds...

Oh, and I would think even small chicken wire might not be small enough to keep babies in, it might be a good idea to use some 1/4" wire mesh around the base.

No, I am not in the US currently, although I am American. I am in Thailand, at least for the next couple more years.
Have not seen anyone who grows this around here, thought it would be nice to get, and shipping tubers is expensive.
Seeds are best in my book, since I can keep them, and the genetics will improve naturally.

Speaking of Comfrey Seeds, I did buy a few and they have proven difficult to sprout. I am going to try again soon after longer refrigeration period, hopefully a few will sprout next time.
I don't like the idea of buying bulbs from big plant merchants who basically clone the same plant a million times. This makes for very narrow genetic variation, so if there is something like potato blithe or Tobacco Mosaic Virus, the plants have no immunity and all will die at the same time.. This is probably what caused the potato famine in Ireland: poor genetic variation due to continuous vegetative propagation methods. I like Mr. Sepp Holter's idea of propagating potatoes from actual seed, guess that's why he calls himself the Rebel Farmer...LOL.

Anyone know where to get some seeds (not tubers), actual seeds?

They do go to seed right, they are in the sunflower/daisy family.....

Brenda Groth wrote:I have an overabundance of Jerusalem artichokes and live in the central part of the lower penninsula of Michigan and will give away to as many as I can that want to come and help dig up the Jerusalem Artichokes with me. Should be able to begin digging them in March or April and will be digging them thru July when Ihope to dig up most of the ones in my one garden area and move them out..they will be free if you come help dig, send me a PM and I'll give you my address and email info.

I have mailed them out before but that is not my first choice..and then they wouldn't be free either..I'd have to charge.

Sounds like you could use some pigs...LOL