American groundnut

Plant family

Legumes (Fabaceae)

Also known as

Potato Bean, Hopniss, Indian Potato, Hodoimo, America-Hodoimo, Cinnamon Vine

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Low

Seeding distance

80 cm

Row spacing

80 cm

Seeding depth

5 cm

Instructions

Description

The earth pear, also known as Indian pear, cinnamon wine or apios, belongs to the butterfly family (Fabaceae). It grows up to 3 m, sometimes even up to 6 m high and resembles runner beans in growth. The reddish flowers are spicy-scented between July and September. The typically shaped butterfly flowers sit together in clusters and show up in pale red, reddish brown, pink or burgundy coloration. The i seeds grow in long, thin pods. Perennial and hardy, it dies above ground in late fall and overwinters in the form of fleshy rhizome tubers, which are the actual earth pears. They grow up to 20 cm in size. The flavor is reminiscent of hazelnut, sweet chestnut and roasted sweet potato. Jerusalem artichokes are also sometimes called earth pears, but they are not related to them. Their climbing growth makes them good for planting along trellises or fences, and they are very hardy to disease and pests. (From plantura.garden).

Growing tips

Do not harvest the tubers in the 1st year. The rhizome tubers can also be put in the ground in the fall. Earth pears must be cold treated before germination. Can also be grown in pots, but then must be frost-free in winter. Cut back a little in the spring. Nitrogen is self-sufficient for the plant, but other minerals may well help it grow if flower set is poor. Never harvest all the tubers so the plant can resprout in the spring. Can be stored for a few weeks and used like potatoes. A climbing aid is useful.