Groundnut, (hopniss) harvest!

Growing hopniss, also known as ground nuts (Apios americana) in zone 9b Sunset zone 15 in Northern California.

[@Suburbanstoneage]

He's got me all excited to try some now! I've been waiting for years for mine to get established and grow, and I think I am ready to do a little Harvest. Thank you for making this video, it helps us when we are going to try for the first time. :-)

[@noahgreene7282]

I wonder if you could make a fufu with these like you would plantain or yuca.

[@karenderby9026]

Wow! I'm so excited about your videos. As a forager, I find your site to be very informative and replete with new ideas. Thank you for your videos. By the way, I too watch "Eat the Greens" with Green Dean.

[@theforestgardener4011]

Wow these look bigger than the ones I dug up this year.

[@derekmorris7128]

This is also my favorite root crop, I cannot imagine why these are not commercially grown.

[@goinsvirginia]

Same as earth chestnuts?

[@feralkevin]

No, earth chestnuts usually refer to small plant in the carrot family, Bunium bulbocastanum

[@marvybells8933]

They sound delicious! I have acquired some for planting and want to try eating a couple. However I tend to have a sensitive gut so i'm a bit nervous about it. I was told that they are like sunchokes which can cause gastro distress if you don't boil them long enough before consuming. At least 1/2 hr boil is what I was told. I think you mentioned only boiling yours for 10 mins so i'm wondering if you noticed any digestive issues after eating them?

[@feralkevin]

Groundnuts are not like sunchokes. They are related to beans and they need to be cooked to destroy similar compounds found in beans. As far as I know, they only have to be cooked until "done" like you would a potato. A lot of the gastro upset reports are from those eating them raw, or having some adverse reaaction (which is largely unknown) at this point. I cannot eat sunchokes either. :)

[@marvybells8933]

@@feralkevin Ah ok, thanks for explaining. I ended up planting them all but that's good to know for next year if I get a decent harvest.

[@ytfp]

Awesome! Always wanted to grow and try. I am in Northern California as well. Where did you pick up your seed crop? Thank you for the video!

[@feralkevin]

I picked up the tubers to plant by ordering from Oikos Tree Crops.

[@natashas.3119]

@@feralkevin I've recently become obsessed with Oikis, lol. Did you mention what variety this is, or have you tried others and do you have a favorite? (I am in zone 5 though, not sure if all varieties are similarly ok up here...)

[@feralkevin]

@@natashas.3119 I think it was an unnamed variety from Oikos

[@MrChip123472]

Looks very productive. How many were you getting around from each tuber planted? I'm planning on growing these this year.

[@feralkevin]

It's hard to say. Seems about a little less productive than potatoes I have grown in the past, but easier and tastier. I think it's best to think of these as a perennial patch rather than a one year crop.

[@charronfamilyconnect]

How many tubers did you plant to get that amount?

[@feralkevin]

probably only 3 or 4 medium small tubers plus a dozen or so super tiny ones

[@gibsongirl6816]

I bet those would be amazing as a potato pancake. Add egg and bread and fry them.

[@lashaemurphy1878]

Where you get your seeds from?

[@Seashells1234]

Where did you buy the tubers? Do u have any for sale or trade?

[@feralkevin]

Oikos Tree Crops

[@jeffskinner1226]

Which variety from Oikos was this?

[@feralkevin]

Don't know. Got it from them years ago it didn't have a varietal name.

[@feralkevin]

Just went back and saw my invoice from 5 years ago. Called "Nutty Groundnut"

[@jeffskinner1226]

@@feralkevin You're Awesome, Thank You

[@kathleenebsen2659]

Might try boiling in the jacket then let cool. Peel then saute'.

[@-whackd]

Have you tried the peel yet?

[@feralkevin]

No, I am not entirely sure if it's edible.

[@-whackd]

@@feralkevin A lady on KZbin made mashed hopniss with parts of the skins. Thanks for your video man, it has inspired me to order some! There is a strain that LSU bred to have big tubers up on ebay that I wanna try.

[@feralkevin]

@@-whackd I'd like to try the famous LSU strain as well. However, these that I got from Oikos tree crops have been quite large! They grew even bigger than these in the video a couple years previous when I had them in all day sun.