North Georgia mystery plant

[Sedona]

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Greetings from Tucker.

I bought a house in Tucker last fall with a generous amount of fruit trees which is awesome. I even have some nectarines appearing.

Lots of raised beds ready for planting and tons of volunteer strawberries and raspberries Yay!

In all my days gardening I've never done so in this area. My most recent garden before now was in Sedona, AZ so you can imagine my delight in being able to grow some stuff that was never possible in that dry climate and rocky soil.

I won't go in to the ridiculous number of new things I'm trying but suffice it to say, I think I may have overdone my varieties but hey there is no try, only do.

In my yard at the base of several of the fruit trees all in a row, looking like they were planted on purpose by previous owner, is this crazy plant I've never seen before. Its like an iceberg, 90% of it is a thick white (on the inside) carrot shaped roots that are next to impossible to pull out. The roots go quite horizontal and are enormous. They break like a fresh carrot and smell a little bitter. I don't have the guts to try a taste.

It has pretty big (10-12 inch) leaves and little purple flowers. Its definitely a perennial. They all went through a hard hard freeze here at the beginning of the year and bounced back beautifully. They are pretty but the roots are something out of a sci fy movie.

If you cut them off at the top with a weed eater they seem to multiply.

Is it a weed? Is it going to take over my yard like bamboo? How far do the roots go? I'm trying to do a asparagus patch and they are perilously close (okay they are a few trying to catch hold in the patch but I'm getting them out little by little)

It doesn't seem to be setting fruit or vegi. WTF is it? Can I eat it? Can I compost it safely? Should it go straight to the landfill?

Help!