Oca

[Medbury Gardens]

Early winter in this part of the world means digging the first of the Oca crop,i experimented with building a plastic frame over them for the last month before winter so as to see if that would increase the yield, which i recon has doubled the size.

[kath]

Ok, had to google that one! Is oca as starchy as potato or can it be used raw?

[Medbury Gardens]

Yep, like a potato but not quite as starchy,as for eating raw,ive never tried it.

[garnetmoth]

those are gorgeous!

[David Marek]

Very nice, and good photo. I have only read about oca. Wikipedia has a pretty good entry. Grown at 3500-4000 meters in the Andes, and being a short day crop (and 6-9 month maturity time), I'll agree your frame was worth the effort. For some reason, now that I see someone else growing it, I'm tempted.

Do you leave the tubers in the sun to sweeten?

[Medbury Gardens]

David they are well worth growing so if you can get them,give them a go.
You say that they need a 6-9 month maturity time and that's about the length of time i have mine growing but the tuber growth is triggered by light hours so its really only in the last month that they grow there tubers,up till then its all leaf growth.Here in the southern hemisphere the further south in New Zealand the better the yield because the daylight hours shorten quicker towards the end of the season,
I do find the longer you can keep them alive heading into winter the better.
No i haven't put any out in the sun yet,i should try it though

Here's a photo of each of the colours from the whole crop

[David Marek]

Those are nice colors.

Territorial is listing 3.5 inch potted oca plants for $14.50 each.
Their photo kind of looks like the variety "apricot" (mentioned in the linked article below)

http://www.territorialseed.com/produ.../seed_potatoes


Another source- tubers
http://www.nicholsgardennursery.com/...hp?pid780.html

Article
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organ...-Grow-Oca.aspx


A guy who grows oca.
http://downtheplot.com/oca.php

Another article.
http://www.seedsofchange.com/enewsle...ue_70/oca.aspx

Not too many options available, but a few pages of findings in a google search also referenced some other Andean roots: mashua, yacon, ulluco, (and one with ahipa, arracacha, and maca). Sorry about the delay, summer happened- complete with 6 foot tall amaranth.

[Medbury Gardens]

Are you going to have a go at growing them this coming season David?? mind you i think that price for one plant is very expensive though,Garden centers here sell bags of 10 tubers for about $7.00.

[David Marek]

Nichols sells assorted tubers- 10 for $13.95. I got excited and put in an order right away. Still expensive, but they seem to be uncommon commercially around here.

For now I think I will pass on the single plant for the same price.

Unless I put up a hoophouse, I will probably grow them in pots so I can bring them in on cold nights.



-Wow- I ordered some other seeds from Nichols as well, they got here in 2 days.

[wingnut]

I don't see why they could not be 'blacked out' like poinsetta at the end of june till october. that would be 4 months at 12/12, and the plants could be plenty big by july 1st for forcing tuber production.

[Medbury Gardens]

Yes 'blacked out' would work but i cant see why considering the effect in to having to cover late afternoon and remove cover mid morning day in day out,why not just let the shorter daylight hour days do the same thing.

For me i have to keep mine growing for three more weeks and i will have a bumper crop,its just a matter of keeping the frosts off them.

[wingnut]

Originally Posted by Medbury Gardens

Yes 'blacked out' would work but i cant see why considering the effect in to having to cover late afternoon and remove cover mid morning day in day out,why not just let the shorter daylight hour days do the same thing.

For me i have to keep mine growing for three more weeks and i will have a bumper crop,its just a matter of keeping the frosts off them.

I was thinking more for those who cannot get them tuberized in time....LIKE ME! By the time my daylength is short enough for tuberization, it is 40 deg and raining.

[Medbury Gardens]

Originally Posted by wingnut

I was thinking more for those who cannot get them tuberized in time....LIKE ME! By the time my daylength is short enough for tuberization, it is 40 deg and raining.

You could do what i do at this time of year and have it under a plastic hophouse which would keep the rain off you get,i do it because it keeps them warmer and they grow so well under it and also when there's a frost i cover with wool blankets

[wingnut]

I imagine that would work, but why would I not want the tuberization to happen when the weather was more conducive to good growth? It is a mute point actually as I have no access to plants or tubers at the moment...The last time I grew oca and ulluco my wife thought the garden was done and turned our flock of chickens into the garden area. There was nothing but well aerated ground where the plants had been.

[Medbury Gardens]

Originally Posted by wingnut

It is a mute point actually as I have no access to plants or tubers at the moment

Would you some??i'm sure i could mail some of the heirloom variety's that are in the photos below.




Your latitude of 46 deg north is the same equivalent the main growing area of Oca in New Zealand,its a lot colder there than where i am which is 43 deg south which still an OK area for growing them,
The commercial growers down south grow by the coast which is still frost free but would still have similar temps about what you get late season.

A few photos taken today on how i'm growing mine