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Marble-sized potatoes with white flesh and brown skin that used to grow wild in MN 80 years ago #870774

Asked May 30, 2024, 1:39 PM EDT

Hi there! My 90-year-old dad was recently telling me about a small wild potato that he used to find all over in central Minnesota when he was a kid. He didn't remember the plant's leaves but said the skin was brown and the flesh was white. Everyone would pluck them out of the ground easier with a jack knife and at them raw. Any ideas what these would be? I would love to hunt some down and grow them for him this summer. Thank you!

Crow Wing County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for writing.
I believe that your father was talking about prairie turnip, which has an edible root. Apparently the Pomme de Terre Fort and river were named for this plant. Pomme de terre means potato. In this case, however, it refers to the prairie turnip (Psoralea esculenta), a potato-like root vegetable which was commonly eaten by the Sioux people.”
https://foragerchef.com/tinpsila-harvest/ 
https://www.prairiemoon.com/pediomelum-esculentum-prairie-turnip
Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County MN (I am a human being, not a bot nor AI). I am an avid gardener but am not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I am happy to receive follow-up questions if my responses are incomplete or unclear.  This is the University of MN' garden soil testing service.  https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is guidance on how to find a tree expert.  https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Replied May 30, 2024, 2:43 PM EDT
Hello Steve! 

And many thanks for your message and thoughts. 

I shared the image of the prairie turnips with my Dad, and he says it's a different plant than the one he remembers. Specifically, the "potatoes" he remembers were perfectly round. 

Also, he said the potato (or the edible part of the plant) had an almost white skin. In my original email, I think I said it had brown skin. 

Any other ideas?

Very grateful for your help,
katherine



On Thu, May 30, 2024 at 1:43 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 30, 2024, 3:49 PM EDT
How is this one?
https://nativefoodsnursery.com/indian-potato/
Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County MN (I am a human being, not a bot nor AI). I am an avid gardener but am not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I am happy to receive follow-up questions if my responses are incomplete or unclear.  This is the University of MN' garden soil testing service.  https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is guidance on how to find a tree expert.  https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Replied May 30, 2024, 4:12 PM EDT

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