Recent comments on last years’ post on eating bamboo shoots came just as the new season is here- and we have been munching our way through this very useful vegetable with gusto.
Martin Crawford demonstrates harvesting bamboo shoots on his excellent new DVD- “A Forest Garden Year.
This really is a superb DVD by the way, showing many of the fascinating plants martin is growing in Dartington, as well as domenostrations of grafting, pollardeing and much more.
He recommends cutting the bamboo before the shoots grow more than about 12 inches, though I have found sometimes you can get away with a good bit more length before they go too woody.
Bland in taste on their own, and a little bit fiddly to prepare, but stir-fried with onions and soya sauce, and served with fish and other veg, make a delicious dish.
And no work entailed apart from harvesting -truly a great forest garden vegetable. Beware of where you plant it though- after several years, phllopstachys bisettii will have to go, having outgrown its space, reaching a height of about 15ft and spread the same- although it would be much more were i not harvesting.
I will move it further down the land where it can happily grow away to its hearts’ content without shading anything.
