How to get Groundnut, Apios americana tubers to sprout?

I'm hoping for advice on sprouting Apios Americana tubers. I have about 18 that I'm keeping moist all the time in pots right now, hoping to start them and then plant once they have vines/leaves.
Temperatures here are generally 60s F during the day and 40s overnight. I currently have the pots outside.
Can anyone advise whether keeping the tubers moist at these temperatures is good for sprouting them? Or should they be kept cooler?

Thanks very much in advance for any advice!

I would hate for them to mold...two of them molded while in the mail.

it sounds like should be fine the way you've got them. what kind of medium are they in?

Hi Jo,

I have grown Apios americana for years. They don't need cooler temps to sprout. In fact, they will probably sprout better as the soil warms up a bit. Mine have just begun to sprout in Rhode Island, if that's any help.

I generally grow mine in containers, because they can take over a garden. That said, the closer you can get your containers to the conditions of a healthy, no-till garden, the better they will grow. They love to grow under mulch. They will not thrive in dry soil, but excessive moisture probably isn't great, either.

If you do intend to put them into the garden, I would suggest trying to put some of them out sooner, rather than starting them in pots. The vines don't transplant very well, so you'll probably damage the growth as you try to transplant them. That said, in the ground they will be more susceptible to pests, like squirrels. So maybe it's a toss-up, but I'd still put a few where you eventually intend to grow them. Just beware that, if they like the spot, they will be difficult to eradicate once they establish themselves.

Also, be cautious about companion-planting them with Jerusalem artichokes, as many people suggest doing. The Jerusalem artichokes can out-compete the groundnuts, which may disappear after the first year or two. I am in the process of trying to see if I can make this companion planting work with careful management, but only because I am growing them in other locations as well.

Btw, they probably molded in the mail because of too much dampness - careless packing job is my guess. The best way to pack and store them is in barely damp vermiculite in the fridge. They'll last for a long time if the vermiculite isn't too damp. Or just in the ground, of course. They'll overwinter there quite nicely. Now that they're in containers, I wouldn't worry about that too much, unless they are already moldy, in which case there probably isn't much you can do.

If they fail, contact me this fall and I'll try to send you a few - assuming you're in the States. You can reach me through this link: https://foodforestcardgame.com/pages/contact or by following me on Instagram, where you can DM me: @FoodForestCardGame

Here's a few pictures of my groundnuts:

Greg - I've got them in organic raised bed soil with some compost.

Karl - Wow, thank you so much for the information! This is extremely helpful. I'm in MA, so very similar temps.
I was not planning to plant Jerusalem artichokes, so no problems there!
That makes sense re: molding in transit. They were just packed in a plastic sleeve, and it looked like maybe some amount of water was added to keep them moist. But, most appear fine at least outwardly.
I had read that they can really take over, but wasn't sure how often that in fact happens. Thanks for the tip on that.
And thank you for the info that they don't transplant that well. Our trees here aren't fully leafed out yet, so I have to wait to pick the exact spot to make sure they'll get enough sun :/ But I will be sure to make a plan sooner rather than later...in hopes that they do work out! Hopefully I won't need to ping you in the fall

Jo Blue wrote:
I had read that they can really take over, but wasn't sure how often that in fact happens. Thanks for the tip on that.
...Hopefully I won't need to ping you in the fall

Not sure where you are in MA but, in normal times, our Permaculture group has free seed and plant swaps a few times each year. Not sure if we'll do much this summer, though. The group is called Permaculture Providence, but there are lots of folks in Southern MA - many in the Westport area - so we often have events there. You can connect with the group on Facebook if you're nearby or interested, but I'm not on FB very much, so I'm usually the last to know unless I'm the host: [Permaculture Providence on FB]

Yeah, they really do take over gardens, but if you remember to eat them more often than I do it might not be as much of a problem. I sometimes plant them, guerrilla-style, in the woods, along river banks and such, where they would have been before my ancestors ate them all up. That way I know they're around when I need them, but I don't need to have too many in my garden.

They will grow in part shade but, yes, they'll thrive in the sun. And they really do take 2 years to grow to a decent size. Just be patient and leave them in the ground for an extra year, after which there will always be a mix of large and small when you dig. It's hard to wait, I know, so maybe just dig up one string of them at the end of the season. You can try cooking the largest, and separate the rest to replant. Every node can form a new chain. Also, it's not a bad idea to store a few over the winter in refrigerated vermiculite (as discussed), in case your squirrels go crazy for them or something. But just leave the majority in the ground undisturbed until the fall of next year.

Feel free to contact me anytime if you have questions about any of this. I might not always see comments to this thread, but I'll always be available on IG.

Cheers,
Karl

I planted some tubers I got in the mail earlier this year and they only sprouted a couple leaves. Will they grow anything next year or should I buy some more?

Sarah Naputi wrote:I planted some tubers I got in the mail earlier this year and they only sprouted a couple leaves. Will they grow anything next year or should I buy some more?

I'm not sure what your climate is like but we have groundnuts that were planted 4 or 5 years ago and they took years to get established. I think the recommendation is to not disturb them for two growing seasons. We harvested a few tiny tubers this spring and replanted them in a better (hopefully) location. Where we live, we are pushing the limits of Apios' preferred climate though.

Welcome to Permies.

Sarah,

That's disappointing. You may want to dig up the tubers to check on them. If they seem firm and healthy, put them back into the soil, no more than an inch deep and preferably under another inch or two of loose mulch. They should perk up next year and do just fine.

If, on the other hand, they seem soft and unhealthy, and assuming you live in the U.S., contact me (via the contact form on my website - FoodForestCardGame.com) and I'll try to send along some excellent tubers. Repatriating this vegetable is a passion of mine.

Cheers,
Karl

Thanks,
  Yes I’m in US. I became interested in Apios Americana because they’re native to US and seem to be hardy. They are high in protein so seems like they would be a superfood in our changing climate. I will dig them up tomorrow and see!

Sarah Naputi wrote:Thanks,
  Yes I’m in US. I became interested in Apios Americana because they’re native to US and seem to be hardy. They are high in protein so seems like they would be a superfood in our changing climate. I will dig them up tomorrow and see!

Yes, there is a big upside, but they're not without their challenges - latex being the foremost of these, another being their small size compared to potatoes. The third "downside" is their aggressive spreading tendency, though this is more of an upside for anyone who is truly enthusiastic about them. Just treat them as you would mint and you'll be fine.

With proper handling and good cultivars, all of these challenges can be overcome. I look forward to hearing more about your progress.

When should I start seeing vines pop up? I see many other plants starting to grow through in my backyard but don’t see any of my Apios Americana starting.

I'm just in my second year, but mine did not sprout last year until after the last frost. Here that is April 15. I expect sprouting is related to the ground temperature.

Thanks!

I've been growing them in pots for 6 years. I've never harvested or eaten any. I noted with interest above the latex issue. Can someone elaborate on this issue? I've largely been using them as an ornamental to grow up an old wood structure (that now surrounds a balcony support) I found on property. It isn't that I'm avoiding eating them, I just figured I'd let them grow until I knew more about them. They flower well and some bees seem to like them but I've never seen actual seedlings.

Hi, I'm interested in Groundnut (Apios americana) as well, any Canadian sources, close to New Brunswick would be ideal, anyone know of?

Sarah Naputi wrote:When should I start seeing vines pop up? I see many other plants starting to grow through in my backyard but don’t see any of my Apios Americana starting.

I am in USDA zone 7A. This spring my Apois sprouted just this week. The last two years our winters ended early,  with a long cool spring. This year is closer to normal.