Hog peanut

[orflo]

This was my first year growing this, and this is gooood. The hog peanuts (amphicarpaea bracteata) are really good tasting, but a bit unproductive ( they have this reputation, but I think our bad summer contributed as well). I placed some plants in a semi-shaded position, and they thrived amazingly. They smothered every weed (and some ocas as well ) in their neighbourhood, and were one of the healthiest looking plants in the garden (remember: Belgium: grey, rainy, dull, ideal for all sorts of fungis, speaking of fungis, there's something very interesting about mycelium and vegetables in the book mycelium running, but I think I already mentioned this here).
This plant seems to be a blessing for some try-out of corn or sorghum with an undergrowth of hog peanut , I'm pretty sure it will grow in the sun as well, at least over here. this is native in many parts of the US, so it should be possible to find this.
The plants have a strange flowering habit, they form different sorts of flowers, who all form seeds, and some of these seeds near the stem bend down to the ground (yes, peanut like-habit) and form the hog peanuts. The taste of the raw peanuts is very good, the name says it all. They didn't become really big, but in better circumstances they will probably size up to half an inch or more, 15 mm.

[stevil]

Interesting, Frank. Did you start them from seed?

I've tried from seed a couple of times, once outside and once in the greenhouse, but the plant didn't grow very big in the first year and I lost it in the winter both times. I guess this is another one where Canadian material would be preferable - range in the link:

plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AMBR2

I sowed the seed both times in December (outside - stratified) and they germinated on 31st May and 1st June - quite late suggesting that they need warm temperatures to germinate. It also suggests that I should have brought them inside to give them a head start - they might then have been bigger for overwintering.

I've also tried Ampicarpaea edgeworthii var japonica with more or less exactly the same result, although the seeds germinated a week earlier.

Stephen

[canadamike]

This is a wild one here, but I never saw it. My days of wild foraging where in my youth, in a region much northern than here.

I don't see why it would be hard to germinate it or make it produce in my area. Can I get seeds? Frank, how did you ate it?

[orflo]

I think I have some seeds for both of you. I eat these raw, they have such a good taste. And yes, I did give them a pre-sowing period in the greenhouse, important is also that the seeds are best not dried out, but kept under sand or whatever you use for these purposes

[ottawagardener]

This is one that I have heard of but haven't run across its latin name before. Do you have pictures?

This picture suggests that it is an understory plant?

2bnthewild.com/plants/H372.htm

I love how they use the word 'apparently' used as 'food' as if we have since discovered better sustenance.... shaking head. Anyhow, it looks neat. I'm really exited about trying out the Prairie Turnip (Psoralea esculenta) this year as a xeroscape native edible that is also a member of the legume family.

[canadamike]

The only thing with that xeriscape thing is we have been inundated with rain in the last 3 years, with last summer toping it off to an unbelieavable point.

Well soon breed for swimming capabilities if it keeps on like that

[ottawagardener]

Yeah, I guess in raised sandy beds...