Mashua, a rare Andean perennial vegetable

Our Mashua plants are growing on very well. And we are hoping to have plants, grown from cuttings, to be available for purchase in the next couple of months.

Mashua, Tropaeolum tuberosum, is a herbaceous perennial climbing or ground cover plant from the Andes. It is a very rare plant outside of South America, where it has been cultivated for many thousands of years, which produces edible tubers. The tubers are considered to be a great delicacy. The leaves are also edible, like the more common garden nasturtium plant.

The Mashua plant also has excellent ornamental value, with very attractive foliage and beautiful red and yellow tubular flowers, produced in summer and autumn. It can be grown as a climbing plant on a trellis or allowed to grow on the ground. Mashua is traditionally grown on the ground in the Andes, with foliage forming a thick mound.

This is a fairly new plant for me here and I am still working to find the best growing conditions for Mashua. But it does need afternoon shade in hot weather and for its roots to be kept cool. Keep water up to it in hot weather. The foliage is frost tender. Mashua grows well in large pots, which is good for moving the plant around until a suitable gowing location is found.

I will email all subscribers when the plants are available on the website.

Midsummer Herbs