Harvesting the Groundnut-Walking on Potatoes

String of Groundnuts

The first time I learned that there were wild edible potatoes in the ground was on a walk with, Russ Cohen on July 26, 2012 at the organic farm in Carlisle, MA. We were following this wild edibles enthusiast like a swarm of bees when mid-stride as if he were a magician he swiped a plant up off the ground and introduced it to the group as Groundnut. It was a vine with what looked like a mini wrecking ball dangling from it.

He explained that the groundnut was what the Native Americans first introduced the settlers to and it is the food source that facilitated their first winter survival.

Two years later I found out that harvesting the groundnut involves a bit of digging so the magic trick was solved. Mr. Cohen had obviously already staked out his wild edible exhibits with trowel and elbow grease.

Since that day on the farm it had been my goal to find this illusive ground potato for myself. It finally happened on August 14, 2014 while I was walking the power lines at a local wildlife sanctuary. Because I had studied my trusty Peterson's field guide there was no doubt that I had come across the groundnut when I spotted clusters of maroon pea-like flowers winding themselves around the stalks of weeds that bordered the path. I was ecstatic and I shouted a big "thank you" up to the sky. I was shaking with excitement as I started at the flower cluster and quickly followed the vine down the stalk of the weed it was wound around and once at the base started tugging lightly while loosening the earth just ahead with my car key (I did not come prepared) until I dislodged a string of three grape-sized tubers. I took these tubers home, presented them to Slack like Russ Cohen had presented the plant to the group and explained that that night we were going to eat potatoes. As it turns out the groundnuts have a very thick consistency and are starchy. They are very satisfying!

Groundnut Blossoms

Groundnut winding around stalk of host plant