Bloody Boots
Full Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:03 am
Location: Wisconsin

Ground Nuts?

I was listening to one of my Favorite Podcasts (The Survival Podcast) and the host (Jack) mentioned Ground nuts as an amazing permaculture crop. I've found a little bit online, does anyone have any experience growing Groundnuts?

[url=https://www.maryrowlandson.com/groundnuthomepage.html]Linky[/url]

cynthia_h
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 7500
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 7:02 pm
Location: El Cerrito, CA

Generally known as peanuts? Or is this a different plant?

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

User avatar
Kisal
Mod Emeritus
Posts: 7646
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:04 am
Location: Oregon

A totally different plant. The peanut plant is Arachis hypogaea.

Groundnuts
[img]https://www.ediblelandscaping.com/Plants/PlantImages/ground%20nut%20tuber(fruit).jpg[/img]

User avatar
applestar
Mod
Posts: 30514
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

I've read about them in wild food foraging books and websites, but had not considered intentionally growing them. Those places usually mention large stands/area of the ground nut plants, and variable sizes of the tubers. I wonder how big an area you would need to dedicate to them to get a reasonable harvest that can be sustained. :?:

Thanks for the link. Something to think about! :D

DoubleDogFarm
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 6113
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:43 pm

Very interesting. High in protein, good for the vegetarian diet.

My brother has a couple large stands of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). I wonder if the sunflower stock could be the trellis for the vining Ground nut?


Eric

User avatar
!potatoes!
Greener Thumb
Posts: 1938
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:13 pm
Location: wnc - zones 6/7 line

I know that researchers at the university of louisiana have been working on a breeding program with them.. apparently the best improved varieties have tubers that get bigger yearly, rather than just adding more walnut-sized tubers in the chain - word I heard was third-year tubers that were up to at least 6 inches in diameter, giving much better yields than unselected varieties.

I know oikos tree crops sells some, but they were out of everything last time I checked. as a fan of tubers in general, and perennials as well, I'm trying to get my hands on a few...hoping next spring I can score some.



Return to “Permaculture Forum”