*sigh*
This year I didn't even try. So Imagine my surprise when about a month ago I saw the top of a daikon coming up in my flower bed. Dude survived!
I kept my eye on it. Watered it. Talked to it. Plucked off bugs and tossed them into the river. I also dreamed about how I'd serve it up when the day came to pick it.
But then something happened.
Something changed. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something was amiss.
This, my friends, is a daikon. It's not my daikon, but it's what a typical daikon (the type I planted) looks like.
And this is a photo of the puppy I harvested today. Not terribly off, you say.
Until you see what it looks like to scale.
WTH is up with those stemmy, leaves going everywhere?
Closer examination shows that those stemmy leaves are covered in little pods.
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Sure, we're 300 kilometers from Fukushima. But there is fallout around here. France just turned away a bunch of green tea they said was way over the safe limit for drinking. That tea came from my prefecture.
So maybe it's possible: Mutant Daikon!
Or, if you don't like that one, I have another theory...
Let's return to the pods.
THE PODS!
Yep.
Whether I'm worrying about radiation or body snatchers, doesn't look like I'll be getting much sleep for awhile.
I'm just wondering if I should eat the thing though...
10 comments:
Hi Terrie! :O)
I wouldn't eat it. I tend to be super paranoid though and while I may not think pod people, I definitely would suspect radiation. :O/
~Jaimey
www.jaimeygrant.com
P.S. Can you somehow warn us if it is pod people? *nervous laugh* :OP
Today I'm going to take it to my class full of farmers. I'm hoping they'll enlighten me.
I'll try to give you a heads up if it's Pod People. That is if they don't take over my bra*%$nnnn..**zip***.. POD PEOPLE ARE GREAT. WORSHIP AND ADORE THE POD PEOPLE. OVER AND OUT.
Any possibility it's just not what you think it is and some other plant entirely? I'd be curious to see what those pods produce. Or maybe that root was still immature. Google is our friend and according to them and Wikipedia.. the pods are normal and seemingly edible.
And such an apropos word verification.. "thersahi"
That is so cool about the word verification!
Well, my students were all stumped. The smell (that awful smell) and the root was definitely daikon. They agreed. The top...not so much. I seriously thing it just went to seed. Not enough nutrients so the daikon itself remained small. The top matured too much and went to seed. I'll plant the pods and see what comes up.
Although Body Snatchers is so much more exciting. ^^v
I described this to my mom and she said it sounds like it went to seed, so no worries about the pods.
...but she'd also appreciate a heads-up if it turns out to be...you know...
:OP
That was a little worrisome! You have to let us know what the farmers think!
I have a black thumb so I'm totally useless. but my parents can grow anything. Sadly, they grew these beautiful peonies and someone ripped them out and stole all of them!!! Flower snatchers!! Can you believe that? ANd they probably turned around and sold it to a local restaurant. Boo. Hate people sometimes.
Jaimey, thanks! Going to seed will be my best case scenario. Me turning into a pod person will be the worst case. Lol
Ello, the farmers all scratched their heads and said, "It smells terrible!"
That is horrible about the peonies!
If any of the original daikons went to seed, and they were hybrids, the second generation plants are often deformed. That's one reason seed companies like to get people to buy their hybrids. Gardeners can't keep the seeds to grow plants the next year.
Anonymous, I've missed you. I'm going to e-mail you soon. That is, if you are who I think you are. And I think you are. ^^v
I'm imomomo. How did you like the big shake? Momo walked around the house saying, "I'm so glad I don't live in Japan," in sort of a "Jesus, what else can happen?" tone. Can't blame her. We pretty much don't have to worry about anything other than nuclear attack or a terrorist chem or bio attack.
I've found that many Japanese don't like Big Nature as much as they profess, what with all the typhoons, earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, et al
More later,
imomomo
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