Tiger Nut (Cyperus esculentus) TUBERS

Cyperus esculentus – Tiger Nut, Nutsedge or Chufa Nut is a perennial grass growing to 0.9 m (3ft).  Prefers a moist soil – often growing in mud or shallow water.

Produces marble-sized edible tubers (not actually nuts at all) but with a pleasant nutty flavour which can be eaten raw or cooked. They can also be dried and ground into a powder. The ground up tuber can also be made into a plant milk with water.

To propagate seed – soak seed for 24 hours – sow indoors from March into seed trays and keep the moist.  Germination can take between two and six weeks at around 20 degrees Celsius. Can be grown on for their first winter in a greenhouse and planted out in late spring after the last expected frosts, or planted up into large pots and grown in polytunnel/greenhouse. The foliage will die back in autumn.  Harvest tubers in October/November – to save tubers to replant for the following year, it is best to dry them (on a tray in a greenhouse away from mice is fine) store them in a cool place away from frost over winter and plant in spring.  Fresh tubers can be stored in growing medium away from frost.