This is a very strange looking plant, almost like a faux Joshua Tree or something. I got the seeds last year from Alan Kapuler’s seed company, Peace Seeds. It’s a big plant, about 2.5 meters high.
It didn’t seed the first year, so it’s either biennial or perennial. If you want to know before me, I’m sure about 30 seconds with Google will give all the details. These prickly buds are sticky and detach easily. They’re very annoying if you get too close when weeding, and get one tangled up in your hair.
It’s about to bloom, and I’m planning to save some seeds. It’s supposed to have a very long root that’s very tasty. It’s supposed to be popular in Japan. I’ve seen the roots for sale in Asian supermarkets here, but I’ve never bought one. I dug up one of my plants last year, but the root was too small to be interesting. After I harvest some seeds, I’ll dig up another plant and see how the root looks.
Anyone have experiences with this plant? Anyone have any advice or thoughts? Recipes?
Burdock? Delicious. Lots of recipes on the web or try the dandelion root one on my food blog. Can also be used to make root beer, Dandelion and Burdock rather popular back in the day in the UK.
I suspect you should have taken the roots just before they put up a flower spike, but there should still be something to harvest.
I didn’t plant mine this year in the spring as I intended, so I should get on with it now.
Be careful when harvesting the seeds. Some people have an allergic reaction to the prickly bits.
Thanks for the suggestions!
The best roots come from young plants, old plants produce roots that are tougher, woodier and harder, not really very ice for eating, although the taste is still there. Sometimes they even become hollow the second year. You can sow them in autumn (or they will re-sow themselves….;-) ) for a quite early spring harvest of the roots. They’re nice fried in a bit of oil (or butter if anyone prefers this), with a bit of garlic and some cumin or fennel seeds.
Hi Patrick, I’ve been growing gobo for a couple of seasons now and wrote a post about it back in May. I really like this plant; it’s easy to cultivate, fast growing, and has both edible and medicinal uses. We also have Wild Burdock that grows as a weed throughout the area and I’ve been try to determine how much difference there is between that plant and cultivated gobo.
About the gobo – I’ve had wild plants come up all over my yard and garden for years and didn’t realize it was burdock till this year, but still I’ve not yet harvested it. There doesn’t seem to be a difference in the look of them. I didn’t realize the root needs to be harvested young. I was thinking the opposite! No matter, they are always popping up if I ever want to try it. It would be easier to harvest if I planted them in the garden, so I may actually try to do that next year with the seed I’m allowing to grow on one of the plants. Thanks for the info and photos, etc.
Thanks again everyone for your comments.
I love this carefree veg; the Japanese sure did a nice job selecting this European weed for bigger roots and less fiber.
Mine keep selfseeding here & there at different paces, so there’s always a nice root somewhere when I need one.
Our favourite recipe: burdock & Buttercup squash & garlic & onion in a warming winter soup.
Lieven: I think you gave me some seeds a few years ago. I’m pretty sure I planted them, I don’t remember what happened…
Patrick, check out this blogpost from Dave Hamilton on gobo or burdock. I know the Italians also use burdock as a substitute for cardoon but not sure how ….
http://www.selfsufficientish.com/main/2011/07/11/foraging-for-burdock-and-burdock-recipes-gobo-recipes/
Hi Jane, That’s a great post!
Hello all, I am new in here, I am from Indonesia, I am interested in growing gobo, but I find difficulty to buy the seeds. May I have any information about buying this seed in asia (china or japan?)
Hi Tondo,
The closest place I know of to you is New Zealand:
http://www.kingsseeds.co.nz/shop/Vegetables/Vegetable+Groups/Root+Crops/Other+Root+Crops/Burdock+Takinogawa+Long.html
They say for international orders you should send them an email. They say there is no tax if they send internationally, but there might be extra shipping charges, so the price might be a little higher or lower.
Most seed companies in the Europe, US or Canada will also send this to you, and usually you can pay with PayPal or a credit card. I don’t know if it’s allowed to import seeds into Indonesia from these places. For example, I’m pretty sure these places will send to you:
http://www.brownenvelopeseeds.com/product-p/japanese-burdock.htm
http://www.bountifulgardens.org/products.asp?dept=28
I hope this helps.