Hardy Perennial Tubers from the Brecon Beacons

Second-generation mashua tubers, climate-adapted for UK permaculture gardens

Why Mashua? Why Now?

Climate change demands resilient food systems. While most gardeners rely on annual vegetables that need replanting every year, permaculture practitioners are rediscovering productive perennials that return year after year with minimal input.

Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum) is one of these remarkable plants – a hardy Andean tuber crop that thrives in challenging conditions, requires little maintenance once established, and produces abundantly in UK climates.

But not all mashua is created equal.

The Second-Generation Story

Mountain-Tested, Welsh-Proven

Our mashua tubers represent something unique in the UK: second-generation stock, selected from plants that survived and thrived through harsh Welsh mountain winters at altitude in the Brecon Beacons.

Here’s why this matters:

First-generation imports often struggle with UK conditions. They’re adapted to their original climate, not ours. When we planted our first mashua crop years ago, we observed carefully – noting which plants handled frost better, which produced more vigorously, which flavour profiles developed in our specific conditions.

We saved tubers only from the strongest performers. Those became our second generation. This is permaculture’s “observe and interact” principle in action: working with nature to select for characteristics that matter in your specific context.

The result? Exceptionally cold-hardy mashua that has proven itself in one of the UK’s most challenging growing environments. If they thrive on our north-facing slopes at altitude, they’ll flourish in most UK gardens.

Permaculture in Practice

More Than Just a Product

This isn’t just about selling tubers. It’s about sharing climate-adapted genetics that support resilient, perennial-focused food systems.

Our approach embodies core permaculture principles:

• Observe and Interact – Selecting hardy stock through generational observation
• Obtain a Yield – Productive perennials with minimal input
• Use Edges and Value the Marginal – Thriving where annuals struggle
• Use Small and Slow Solutions – Patient selection over quick fixes

Every tuber we send out carries the genetic memory of Welsh mountain winters, ready to become part of your permaculture design.

What is Mashua?

An Andean Perennial for UK Gardens

Mashua originates from the high Andes, where it’s been cultivated alongside potatoes for thousands of years. Like many mountain crops, it’s remarkably frost-tolerant and thrives in cooler climates – making it perfectly suited to the UK.

Key characteristics:

• Hardy perennial – Tubers overwinter in the ground, returning each spring
• Late season crop – Harvest after first frosts (which improve flavour)
• Productive – 5-10 tubers planted can yield several kilos
• Low maintenance – Resistant to most UK pests and diseases
• Edible flowers and leaves – Full plant utilization
• Ground layer crop – Ideal for forest gardens and polycultures

Taste profile: Peppery and slightly spicy when raw (similar to nasturtium, its relative), becoming earthy and mellow when cooked. First frosts sweeten the tubers significantly.

Why Choose Our Stock?

The Mountain Terroir Advantage

Growing conditions shape plant genetics. Our mashua has adapted to:

• Cold temperatures – Regular frost exposure strengthens hardiness
• North-facing slopes – Lower light, cooler temperatures
• Altitude – Around 300m elevation in the Brecon Beacons
• Welsh weather – High rainfall, wind exposure, temperature swings
• Marginal land – Poor soil, challenging microclimate

If you’re establishing a permaculture system, you want genetics that have proven themselves under pressure. These tubers have.

Growing Mashua in the UK

A True “Plant-and-Forget” Perennial

One of mashua’s greatest strengths is its ease of cultivation:

• Spring: Plant tubers 10cm deep after last frost (April-May)
• Summer: Vigorous vining growth, optional support if desired
• Autumn: Beautiful orange flowers appear (edible, delicious in salads)
• Winter: First frost triggers tuber swelling and flavour development
• Harvest: Late autumn/early winter (November-December)
• Overwinter: Leave some tubers in ground for next year’s crop

That’s it. No fertilizer needed. Minimal watering once established. Few pests. No diseases we’ve encountered in our Welsh climate.

This is permaculture principle #2 in action: Obtain a Yield with minimal energy input.

Read Our Complete Growing Guide →

Forest Garden Integration

Where Mashua Fits in Your Permaculture Design

Mashua excels as a ground layer component in forest gardens and polyculture systems:

• Grows well under light canopy shade
• Vining habit can climb through companion plants
• Late harvest timing fills the “hungry gap”
• Flowers provide late-season pollinator support
• Can be interplanted with perennial onions, herbs, low shrubs

We grow ours integrated with Welsh onions, lemon balm, young fruit tree guilds, and wild garlic margins.

Explore Permaculture Integration Strategies →

From Kitchen Garden to Table

Culinary Versatility

Mashua rewards adventurous cooks:

• Raw: Thinly sliced in salads, pickled, fermented
• Cooked: Roasted (our favourite), boiled, mashed, in stews
• Preserved: Pickles beautifully, stores fresh for months in cool conditions

The peppery bite mellows with cooking, leaving earthy, slightly sweet tubers similar to potatoes but with more character. First-frost harvests are noticeably sweeter.

Flowers and young leaves are also edible – add nasturtium-like spice to salads.

Discover Our Recipe Collection →

Seasonal Availability

Small-Batch, Sustainable Supply

We operate on permaculture’s “small and slow solutions” principle. This isn’t large-scale commercial agriculture – it’s careful, observation-based growing focused on quality and adaptation.

• Tuber availability: Generally late autumn through early spring (our harvest and planting season)
• Limited quantities: We only sell what we can sustainably produce
• Pre-orders welcome: Get on our list for next season’s stock

Start Your Mashua Journey

Three Ways to Begin

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Building Resilient Food Systems, One Tuber at a Time

Whether you’re establishing a forest garden, exploring perennial vegetables, or simply curious about unusual crops that thrive in UK conditions, mashua deserves a place in your design.

Our second-generation, mountain-tested stock gives you the best possible start.