Have any of you ever eaten skirret? It is apparently a Chinese crop that was brought to Europe by the Romans, and the Romans subsequently carried it to Britain and then spread it to the Continent. It was apparently used in Tudor times in England as a sweetener and was a subsistence crop in Europe north of the Alps in medieval times. It went out of favor as parsnips were improved and with the introduction of potatoes, it dropped from the menu almost completely. I am thinking of growing it if I can find a source for seeds or tubers just to see if it will grow here. I understand it is enjoying a resurgence in Britain, but the supply is very low.
The name did rang a bell. So first off did a search. Found a few suppliers of the seed in the UK at around £3 packet. Did a search for the seeds in America and came up with one supplier at around $13 a packet. The only trouble is they don't ship the seeds to a couple of States , one them being Alaska. https://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/item_1365A
It is referred to by another name in Scotland, @Holly Saunders. I don't recall the name, but it has apparently naturalized there somewhat and the name begins with a "C" if I remember correctly.
I just came across it somewhere a day or two ago, but I can't remember where. I had never heard of it before but it sounded interesting. It was in an article that included a couple of other crops that I don't remember now.
Skirret : The forgotten Tudor Vegetable! The popular Tudor root vegetable skirret is being grown at Hampton Court Palace again
That's the stuff! Now if I can just find it that will ship to Alaska. Perhaps I will have to fly to the UK to get a good specimen!
Don. This was the American site I found but states does not ship to Alaska. Try getting some one else to order it that you no, and get them to send it on to you. https://perennialpleasures.net/product/skirret/
Thanks, @Tom Galty. I may order it to arrive at my son't house when I go down there. My daughters live in Washington and that site doesn't ship there either.
@Don Alaska Bought some seeds and planted them in my green house. OMG are they slow think they will have to stay there till next year in the seed trays It would have been better if I had brought the crowns.
I love to try all these different plants but my mail forwarding service will not ship seeds I tried before to get special seeds and no shipping into this country.