Arrowroot is becoming well known as a gluten-free alternative to corn starch and flour. What isn’t advertised on the nutritional label, though, is the rich history of arrowroot powder and the plant it comes from. It was cultivated in Latin America as early as 8200 BCE, thousands of years before gluten was even identified. Back then, this plant was well known for extracting poison from arrow wounds, hence the name arrowroot plant.
The common name ‘Arrowroot’ is actually applied to multiple plants, mostly those whose roots can be made into arrow starch or flour. The more commonly known ones are Canna indica, which is grown for its elegant flowers, and Zamia pumila, known as Florida arrowroot. In this article, we’ll focus on the arrowroot plant that’s primarily used for commercial arrowroot flour and starch: Maranta arundinacea.
M. arundinacea is a large, tropical plant that grows in water margins. Its lively green foliage is as much at home near a backyard pond as it is in a rainforest. You’ll find that it’s very easy to grow in warm climates (and even easier to propagate). So if your water feature – or a soggy part of the yard – could use some sprucing up, consider the arrowroot plant!
Arrowroot is a tropical tuber crop that is grown for its edible starch. The arrowroot plant goes through several distinct growth stages during its lifecycle. In this article, we will explore the different stages of arrowroot plant growth from planting to harvest.
Overview of Arrowroot
Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) is a herbaceous perennial that is native to tropical regions of the Americas. The arrowroot plant produces rhizomes or tubers that are rich in starch. This starch has traditionally been used as a source of edible carbohydrate and also has industrial applications as a thickening agent.
Arrowroot is relatively easy to grow in tropical and subtropical climates. The plants thrive in warm temperatures high humidity and abundant moisture. Arrowroot can be propagated from rhizome sections or tubers. Under favorable growing conditions, arrowroot will spread into a dense ground cover. Regular harvesting of the tubers helps stimulate productivity.
Now let’s take a closer look at the growth cycle and developmental stages of the arrowroot plant.
Germination Stage
The arrowroot growth cycle starts with planting rhizome sections or whole tubers The tubers or rhizomes are planted 2-5 inches deep in the soil Arrowroot can be planted at the beginning of the rainy season in tropical locations,
Germination begins within 7-10 days after planting. The first arrowroot growth is an erect shoot that emerges from the planted rhizome or tuber. The shoot grows upward to the soil surface. The emerging shoot is pale green or pinkish in color.
During the germination stage, the young arrowroot plant relies on food reserves stored in the planted rhizome to fuel initial growth. No leaves are present at this point. The shoot will continue growing taller over the next few weeks.
Leaf Production Stage
The arrowroot plant begins forming leaves 2-3 weeks after emergence. The leaves originate from nodes along the main shoot.
Arrowroot leaves are broad, oval-shaped, and light to medium green in color. The leaf edges are smooth. Leaves emerge sequentially in an alternating pattern along the shoot.
Early foliage growth is slow as the plant becomes established. But leaf production and branching will accelerate as the root system expands. More advanced arrowroot plants can have up to 12 leaves reaching 12 inches across.
Stolon Formation Stage
After 5-6 weeks of growth, arrowroot plants start developing specialized vegetative structures called stolons. Stolons are modified horizontal stems that spread across the soil surface.
The stolons emerge from the base of the main arrowroot stem near ground level. The stolons grow outward from the parent plant and form roots at the nodes. This allows the plant to propagate vegetatively.
The stolons continue lengthening over time. A mature arrowroot plant can have stolons extending 3 feet or more outward. Tubers eventually form along the stolon system.
Tuber Formation Stage
Tuber formation typically starts 8-12 weeks after planting arrowroot. The stolons swell at the nodes to form the starch-rich tubers.
Arrowroot tubers are oval-shaped or oblong and approximately 2-3 inches in length when fully mature. The exterior skin color of the tubers can range from brown, purple, or white-gray depending on the variety.
Tubers continue enlarging over several months. Mature plants can produce up to 20-25 tubers. Tubers intended for food use are harvested when they reach full size. The tubers can be detached from the stolons or the entire plant is dug up.
Flowering and Seed Stage
Arrowroot will flower when growing conditions are favorable. The flowers emerge on erect stalks rising above the foliage. Arrowroot flowers are small and white.
If pollinated, arrowroot will form berry-like fruits containing black seeds. However, arrowroot is normally propagated from tubers or rhizomes rather than seeds. And the presence of flowers and fruits may compete with tuber formation, so commercial arrowroot is usually harvested before flowering.
Dormancy Period
Like many other tropical tuber crops, arrowroot goes through a dormant phase. In areas with a defined dry season, arrowroot plants will die back as moisture decreases. The aerial growth recedes, but the underground tubers remain alive.
When wet conditions return, new shoots will resprout from the established arrowroot tuber system. The plant then begins another similar growth cycle. After harvest, arrowroot fields are often left fallow during dormancy before replanting.
Ideal Growing Conditions
Arrowroot thrives under warm, humid, tropical conditions. Ideal temperatures for growth range from 70-95°F. Arrowroot needs abundant moisture and rainfall exceeding 50 inches per year. Partial shade or filtered sunlight are favorable. Rich, well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5-6.5 is optimal.
With the proper climate and care, arrowroot is a vigorous grower. A single plant can spread to cover 25 square feet in just 5-6 months! But both the rate of growth and tuber yields are reduced when conditions are suboptimal.
Harvest Time
Arrowroot tubers can be harvested approximately 4-12 months after planting depending on the variety. Some types mature rapidly in as little as 4 months while other late-maturing cultivars may need up to a year to reach full size and starch content.
For food production, arrowroot tubers are ideally harvested when they are around 2-3 inches long and the skin is firm. At this point, the tubers have reached maximum starch accumulation. Over-mature tubers tend to get fibrous.
After harvest, arrowroot tubers do not store well and need to be processed quickly. The tubers are washed, peeled, dried, and ground into powder to extract the starch.
Uses for Arrowroot
Arrowroot starch has many culinary uses as a thickening agent for sauces, gravies, puddings, and glazes. The refined starch is easily digestible.
Arrowroot also has industrial applications in manufacturing paper, textiles, and adhesives. And the starchy tubers can be consumed or used as livestock feed.
Additionally, arrowroot is sometimes grown as an ornamental foliage plant or ground cover. It has attractive leaves and the flowers add visual interest.
All About Arrowroot Plant
Our arrowroot plant is in the Marantaceae family, making it cousins with the popular houseplant M. leuconuera (prayer plant). Since they’re both popular plants, Marantaceae may be referred to as either the arrowroot family or the prayer plant family. M. arundinacea itself was previously called Maranta sylvatica. It also goes by the common names West Indian arrowroot and obedience plant (not to be confused with the sprightly ‘obedient plant’).
As mentioned earlier, arrowroot is native to Latin America, from Mexico to the West Indies to Brazil. True to its tropical habitat, it has smooth, ovate leaves that are at least 6 inches long. It grows in clusters that can reach 5 feet tall and blossoms in the spring and summer with a subtle display of tubular white flowers.
Arrowroot produces rhizomes, which are ground into powder. They’re white or reddish-purple and sprout thick green stems. They’re a good source of potassium and have a nutty, sweet flavor when eaten raw or cooked. The rhizomes are very digestible and sometimes fed to infants.
As an arrowroot rhizome ages, it gets woody, fibrous, and more difficult to eat. In mild winters, the plant goes dormant, and the foliage often dies back. Come spring, the rhizomes will sprout new stems and leaves.
Your everyday arrowroot plant has solid green leaves. If you’re looking for something fancier though, search for a ‘Variegata’ cultivar. Its leaves are painted with chunks of white and light green.
Arrowroot starts and seeds may be found at gardening centers, depending on where you live. You can also search for and order them online. If you’re planting by seed, sow them in sprouting pots or directly in the ground. Soak the seeds first to increase the germination rate.
Plant your starts in the spring. This will give them plenty of time to establish a root system and shoot up before going dormant in the winter. Ideally, arrowroots should be planted in a water margin. It needs a lot of moisture, so placing it somewhere wet will save you a lot of time spent watering. The location you choose should also get partial shade for most of the day.
Arrowroot can grow in containers as long as they’re pruned or divided periodically (these are big plants!). Choose a sturdy container with good drainage holes. While it’s possible to grow arrowroot indoors, this plant does much better outside.
Arrowroot is an agreeable plant. As long as it was planted in the right conditions and the following needs are met, you shouldn’t have any issue growing a plentiful harvest.
Arrowroots are best cultivated in partial shade with direct sunlight limited to a couple of hours a day. However, they’ve been reported to survive in a warm sunny position as well as full shade, albeit with less vigorous growth.
Because it’s native to the tropics, growing arrowroot is easiest in zones 10-12. It thrives in temperatures from 62-93°F during the growing season. This plant may survive temperatures as low as 40°F and even some light frost during the dormant season. Adding some mulch in the fall may help the crop stay warm through the winter months.
Remember that arrowroot grows in water margins, so naturally, it needs plenty of moisture. Keep the soil constantly moist, watering daily if needed. Arrowroot also prefers some humidity, which is easily accomplished if it’s planted next to a pond.
If your arrowroot plant gets hot and dry, its leaves will let you know. Mist the air around them with a spray bottle to up the humidity. Avoid getting large amounts of water on the leaves since it can lead to fungal growth.
In the winter, when your M. arundinacea goes dormant, cut down to weekly watering. Not only does the plant need less water, but too much will make the roots cold. When new growth emerges in the spring, gradually increase watering.
All that water is useless if we don’t have good soil to hold it. Choose a loamy, well-drained soil that will stay moist without becoming muddy. It should drain well enough that large puddles aren’t left on the surface, and excess moisture drains out the bottom of a container.
Use soil that’s rich in nutrients and organic matter. It should also be slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.5-6.5. Though all these soil characteristics are important for growing arrowroot, the plant will usually survive in varying soil qualities if needed.
Fertilize your arrow root in the spring for a jump start on healthy growth. Use a diluted, balanced, liquid fertilizer 1-2 times a month for the season (seaweed tonic is a popular choice for this crop). This plant can be overfertilized – especially in the summer – and will show it with leaf discoloration.
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