Ideas for community gardens < water crops

Arrowhead growing in a fibreglass tub.

ARROWHEAD

Botanic name

• Sagittaria sinensis (Asian variety)
• Sagittaria sagittofolia (European variety)
• Sagittaria latifolia (North American variety – duck potato)

Growth form

• a rhizome producing an arrow-shaped leaf on a stem to 60 centimetres in length
• rhizome grows to around four centimetres long by 2.5 centimetres diameter

Edible part

• rhizome is peeled and cooked

Cultivation

Propagation:

• from rhizome

Growing

• plant rhizomes in planting mix around twenty centimetres apart
• flood container to five or so centimetres above surface of growing mix
• monitor and maintain water level through the growing period

Harvesting:

• the rhizomes are ready to harvest when the foliage dies
• remove the plant and the growing mix from its container
• separate out the rhizomes from the growing mix
• place the used growing mix in your compost system
• save the best rhizomes for replanting

Centre of diversity

• naturalised in Asia, North America, Europe.

PAGE UPDATED... Wednesday, 16 January 2002