These are stem tubers of Mashua, a type of Nasturtium. They’re an ancient crop from the Andes in the same indigenous agro-ecosystem as Potatoes and Oca. They’re slightly hotter than radishes raw, less so cooked. The small leaves aren’t so hot and have a much nicer flavour than ‘normal’ Nasturtium. Mashua is not heat tolerant so in the past I’ve grown it in the shade. Grown as an ornamental in Europe for its tubular flowers #tropaeolumtuberosum #mashua #lostcropsoftheincas #novelcrops #panc #stemtubers #shortdayplants #nasturtium

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Happy World Lizard Day everyone (August 14)! Here’s an avatar of myself from a bygone age with a Blue Tongue Lizard at Eagle’s Nest near Inverloch #bluetonguedlizard #bluetongueskink #tiliquascincoides #worldlizardday #longago #pastavatar #ageingprocess #closethippy #catchinglizards #herebedinosaurs #dinosaurcoast #eaglesnestinverloch #southgippsland #prepandemic

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Malabar Gourds on their way to @fruitnerd for making Shark Fin Melon soup (follow him for great recipes and fascinating insights into the life of a wholesale fruiterer!); these giant gourds/melons can be stored for up to seven years . Their young shoots are delicious. Four plants grew 70 melons this year and although zapped by frost they’ll probably re-shoot. These are monstrous in their spread and will grow up and over trees. You have been warned #sharkfinmelon #malabargourd #curcubitaficifolia #plantsofmexico #shortdayplants #weighsatonne #specialdelivery #novelcrops #panc #perennialvegetables #burnleyfieldstation #pandemicgardening

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