Lesson 6.41.0 PIT PIT - Saccharum edule and Setaria palmaefolia

 

FOOD FOREST COURSE

AGRO-ECONOMY 

Lesson 6.41.0 PIT PIT - Saccharum edule and  Setaria palmaefolia

 

Pitpit is thought to originate from the Mt Hagen area in Papua and New Guinea. (I read somewhere that pitpit is a distant relative of the sugar cane family but can’t confirm this).  There are two main varieties of pitpit- tall pitpit (Saccharus edule) and short pitpit (Setaria palmaefolia).  Pitpit is also known as New Guinea asparagus and is definitely worth growing in the Permaculture Garden.  The taste is somewhat like asparagus and they can be eaten both raw and cooked.

Tall Pitpit

Tall pitpit is a cane of unknown origin with an edible inflorescence and there is no wild form known.  If a garden were neglected, the tall pitpit would die out eventually. Traditionally, the tall pitpit does not have much importance as food crop but is often used as a windbreak or inter-planted with other food plants.

Short Pitpit

Short pitpit is a hardy plant that grows along the riverbanks and in the bush in its native setting. It is often used by hunting parties or during times of famine.  This variety of pitpit is favoured by the indigenous people of PNG and is extensively planted out in their gardens in amongst their sweet potatoes and yams.

Cultivation

Tall pitpit is planted mostly into virgin soils on dry ground and has no specific planting requirements and it can be planted at any time of the year in the tropics.  It is ready to harvest when the leaves on the stalk are brownish in colour and the sheaths lose their hairiness.  Another sign for maturity is when the branches look nice and plumped up.

Short pitpit is about three feet high and is planted in spring in the sub tropics just before the summer rains are due.  Traditionally a digging stick is used and two cuttings are placed in each hole.  Alternatively, a narrow trench can be dug and the pitpit is laid down inside it with the top part sticking out where the new leaves will grow.  This is to ensure that maximum rootlets will form on each node along the stem, as these will eventually grow into a dense clump.  As each node is formed, new plants emerge and so a clumping effect occurs, and this is what makes the short pitpit so productive.  

This variety of pitpit likes to be taken care of a bit for maximum production.  Although it will do alright just about anywhere, it absolutely thrives in a wellprepared soil with constant moisture.  If you have any little gullies or trenches in your food forest garden then planting the pitpit in them with added organic matter should suffice and no more care is needed until it’s time to harvest them. How easy is that!

With the cooler weather of autumn, the short pitpit should be cut right back.  This will encourage the new spring growth to grow lots of tender new stalks to enjoy for the next season.  It is recommended to replant the pitpit every spring from the new growth from the last season’s plants.  Better results are noted, and the plant tends to keep well clumped and not become leggy and consequently not so productive. Text from the roots, Elisabeth Ferkonia (Aus.) PDC studied with Bill Mollison.




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