Chufa / Tiger nut

Plant family

Sauergrasgewächse (Cyperaceae) (Cyperaceae)

Synonyms

Atadwe, Yellow Nutsedge, Earth Almond

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Very humid

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Seeding distance

30 cm

Row spacing

30 cm

Seeding depth

3 cm

Instructions

Description

The tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) is also known as the tiger nut or chufa nut. It came to Europe in the 8th century via Spain. Contrary to its name, it is not related to the almond, but belongs to the acid grasses (Cyperaceae), so the are also suitable for allergy sufferers. It grows between 30-60 cm high and has grass-like leaves. The yellow flowers rarely form in our country. The light brown-black nodules on the roots grow up to 3 cm in size. They have a sweet-nutty taste, which has given them the name tiger nuts. Due to the high fiber content, they are very well tolerated and can also be eaten raw or ground into flour. However, as it is an invasive species in our country, it multiplies in fields, so root barriers should be placed around the plant and flowering should be prevented. The tiger nut needs a warm, protected location for the nodules to form.

Growing tips

The germination of tiger nuts takes place between 20-25°C. For this purpose, the tubers can also be soaked overnight in water. After germination, the plants are placed a little cooler and from mid-May after the last frosts are placed outdoors. They can also be cultivated in a tub. In cool temperatures, cover with a fleece. Place a root barrier outdoors to prevent sprawl and protect native plants. Tigernuts are generally very low maintenance but need regular moisture and the soil should be fertilized or enriched with compost before planting. In mild winters, plants may even resprout the following year. For harvesting, the roots of the yellowed leaves are dug up, and the tubers are removed. However, wash them just before use, otherwise the shelf life will be shortened. Otherwise, the tiger nut is robust and little susceptible to disease.