Dioscorea bulbifera, edible air potato

The information contained in this post is entirely about the edible cultivated varieties of Dioscorea bulbifera. The wild air potatoes you find growing in the woods are NOT edible.

This is one of the true yams that are tropical in origin. Yams are twining vines that quickly climb to the top of any available support. They can completely cover nearby trees or shrubs so plant it in an appropriate location.

While the plant is in active growth it will put out aerial tubers at many of the leaf joints. These aerial tubers are peeled and boiled as a vegetable.

The aerial tubers will grow where they fall on the ground, so pick them up and eat them if you don't want more vines taking over your garden!

Dioscorea bulbifera will produce well in sun or light shade. The plants are very drought-tolerant once established. They are perennial in regions where the ground soil doesn't freeze during the winter. In colder locations they can be grown as an annual, saving some of the aerial tubers for replanting each year.

There are a few different cultivated varieties in circulation;

'Hawaii' has dark, rounded tubers with a bumpy skin and glossy sheen.

'Africa' has gray, angular tubers with a rougher texture.

Dioscorea bulbifera is considered an invasive species in Florida and some other southern states, but the agricultural laws do not differentiate between the wild air potatoes and these cultivated edible varieties. Here is a photo of the wild variety for comparison:

In an effort to keep wild air potatoes under control, Florida has introduced an invasive beetle from China to eat the leaves and aerial tubers.

This initially seemed to have an effect since the leaves quickly became riddled with holes by the feeding beetles, but the air potatoes have sprouted again every spring with no apparent decrease in vigor. In addition, the beetles appear to be parasitized by some other insect which reduces the beetle population.
The beetles feed on both the wild air potatoes and the edible cultivated varieties. They have also been found feeding on other species of plants. Here's one feeding on Quisqualis indica:

This may yet prove to be another example of an intentionally imported species having unforeseen consequences in its new environment.

Water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis)

Eleocharis dulcis is commonly known as water chestnut or Chinese water chestnut. The edible part of the plant is the underground corm, which is typically harvested when the plant dies down in the fall.

Prepare water chestnuts for eating by peeling away the brown covering on the corm. Inside you'll find the white edible portion. It can be eaten raw or cooked.

Water chestnut prefers to grow in boggy soils, or submerged under a few inches of water. The hollow leaves grow to about 1.5 feet tall, giving it a grassy appearance.

Water chestnuts are easy to grow in backyard ponds or water gardens. Even a 5-gallon bucket will do. Simply plant them in the spring and they will continue to multiply throughout the growing season. Here's the result of one season of growth in a 10-inch diameter pot:

Eleocharis dulcis is native to Southeast Asia and Australia. It is perennial in USDA Zones 8-11. In colder regions, the corms can be dug and stored in wet refrigeration for the winter, then re-planted in early spring. A full sun or mostly sunny location is preferred.

Here's a short video on growing and harvesting water chestnuts from a 5-gallon bucket: