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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Mimi on April 30, 2004, 10:45:59
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As some of you may know my youngest daughter has just returned from New Zealand. She wants to know if we can grow Kumara in this country. It is apparently a type of sweet potato, that she has got to love eating while out there. Has anyone out there heard of this, or can they give me any ideas how I can find out about it? Also has anyone heard of Scalapini. It is a type of squash that is about the size of a squashed lemon and is yellow?
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It is possible to grow sweet potatoes in the UK. Not sure of details... Have heard of that scalapini type squash thing as well ;D
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I've got a copy of the 'how to grow sweet potatoes' article from The Kitchen Garden if you want a copy - just pm me your e-mail addy if you want it
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Sweet pots can be grown here, only recently appeared from the seed companies, needs a quite long season (doesnt everything now!!). They arent sold as tubers or seeds but as roots I seem to recall (imagine rubarb or asparagus). Probably only a few varieties available.
The squashes I havent seen over here much (I am from OZ originally) but they are popular in america and oz. They are also known as 'pattypan' squashes. I know vidaverde (add a .co.uk) does sell them, and you can prolly find them among other seed catalogues that do the less than popular stuff.
Hope that helps.
ken
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Have a look at http://www.kumara.co.nz/about.shtml (http://www.kumara.co.nz/about.shtml)
A friend grew sweet potatoes in a polytunnel from slips she produced herself from super market potatoes (the slips bought from a seed firm failed completely) last year in N Hampshire and only had limited success only very small tubers were produced
Phil