If you have a back fence that would benefit from the addition of a two - three metre screen of bright happy 'sunflower like' blooms and interesting foliage from Spring through to Autumn, then this has got to fit the bill.

As a major bonus, from late Autumn through to early Spring, you can dig up the tubers as you need them (they keep best in the ground) boil them in a little milky water and add them to any winter dish you can think of.

They are a great food and, because of their lack of starch (they have inulin instead) they are especially good for diabetic or pre-diabetics.

We sell the seeds which they produce in small quantities if we have had a brutal summer (they only produce viable seed under stress), and then the tubers in late Autumn.

They need to be sold fresh so they are only available for a short time after harvest.

As long as you leave tiny bits of tuber in the ground each year they will continue to thrive.