I started gardening seriously out of a desire to try new fruits and vegetables, especially those that are not readily available in the produce section or at the farmers market.  One plant I’ve been eager to try is the American groundnut (Apios americana), which is also know by a host of other names, including potato bean and Indian potato.  The plant is native to North America, and is grown for its edible tubers.

I was finally able to order one, and it arrived in the mail on one of the hottest days on record.  It suffered miserably in transit, losing leaves and generally looking as though it was going to give up the ghost.  I placed it in a cool, shady spot to recover, and babied it for a week or so, and fortunately it began to put out new growth.  I’m hoping that it has recovered from its journey, but I’m reluctant to plant it out, given the brutally hot weather of late, and the general dryness we’re experiencing.  Instead, I transplanted it into a much larger fostering pot, and will place it out in the main food forest plot in the fall or spring.

In the “7 layer guild” construct, I suppose groundnut is part of both the vertical layer and the rhizosphere, and it’s a legume, meaning that it will help to enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen.  If it’s at all tasty, it could be the perfect plant!