Topic: Oca and Mashua

[goodlife]

Those of you who are growing these...would you consider to save for me few for a swap..I know..they have only just started growing..but I'm a bit ahead with my plans for the next year..so grow a good crops and if you would have spare... ;)..I'm here... ;)

[grannyjanny]

Just googled Mashua & it sounds very interesting. Good for kidneys & daughter has a chronic kidney condition so would be interested in those too ;).

[Jayb]

I'm growing both this year, I've also sent some out in swaps again so hopefully a few will be about later on. Depending on harvest I'm hoping to be able to offer some later on. I think too late to try with mashua for this year, but please remind me end of this year begining of next.

Goodlife, I'm so impressed at how hard Oca try to grow I've added the last few (small) tubers to Jeannine's parcel. I think as long as planted fairly soon will still come to something this year. If you have a little space left I can forward you a couple of these on.

[goodlife]

Ohh..you little treasure you.... ;) ;D I shall make every efford to keep some space available... ;D ;D ;D..even if it means hacking a tomato plant or two down... :o :o..oh..I'm sure it doesn't come to that..what would you like for return?

[Robert_Brenchley]

What's other peoples' oca doing at the moment? Mine aren't up yet, but where I've dug up the odd accidental, they've been producing shoots, so presumably it's on the way. It's a little worrying because that bed was considerably dug about by a rabbit, along with the adjoining one with Chinese artichoke and tuberous pea. A few of the artichokes are up, and none of the peas.

[Torreya]

Had 'swapsie' and 'e-bay' Ocas in red, white and pink. All bar one are now up and almost 9" (sorry, 23cm) tall. They're still in MP compost in 4.25" pots in the greenhouse. I'm still debating whether to keep potting them on for a bit, or risk planting out (OH's convinced we're going to get more snow ???] ) Anybody got an opinion?

[Twoflower]

Oh i hope not mine are about 1" tall :'( Potatoes have only just recovered from the last frost.

[Jayb]

I shall make every efford to keep some space available... ;D ;D ;D..even if it means hacking a tomato plant or two down... :o :o..oh..I'm sure it doesn't come to that..what would you like for return?

What about underplanting your toms with them?
Pm me your address x


Oca, all my potted up tubers are growing away well and a few overwintered volunteers I've left growing are looking strong, although these are mostly in a polytunnel. Suprisingly some of the Mashua have overwintered outside in a raised bed and look to be thriving at the moment, potted up tubers also seem well ahead this year.

[lottie lou]

PM me in late December/next January regarding Lost Crops of the Incas.

[goodlife]

You bet I will... ;)

[Ian Pearson]

Goodlife, I'm hoping to have swappers of all of these:
http://oca-testbed.blogspot.com/2010/03/oca-variety-roundup.html

... tho' some varieties are distinctly lacking in vigour. Remind me around January.

I'm trying bicropping with sweetcorn this year...
http://oca-testbed.blogspot.com/2010/06/oca-sweetcorn-bicrop.html

[goodlife]

Oh I will Ian.. ;D...I have come across your site before..!.. ;D
Great this is turning out better than I expected... ;D ;D ;D
Does those different colour tubers have any difference in taste and texture wise?..and how about skin..does it keep the colour when cooked?

[Ian Pearson]

I have not tasted most of those varieties yet - mainly they are acquired this year. But there is a big variation in vigour, leaf colour, leaf size etc, so probably in taste too.

The colour does fade a fair bit when cooked, but does not disappear completely.

[no-lottie]

I haven't heard of Mashua before today, but did a Google search on it and I'm now interested in knowing more. Can it be grown from seed and tuber, or just tuber.

[Jayb]

Tubers seem the norm over here, Mashua are mostly day light sensitive, flowering very late in the year the weather is very much against them for flowering and making seeds. The variety Ken Aslet is not as day length sensitive, flowering earlier than other types, so does just about have a chance to set seed.

I've only tried growing them from tuber so far, I did save a few seeds last year although I'm not sure where I've put them! Despite our cold winter tubers have re-grown strongly in a patch I didn’t harvest last year, which surprised me.

I’m trying a couple of plants in a polytunnel this year to see if I can prolong flowering, that’s as long as they don’t try and take over in which case they will get the chop. So I may be able to save some more seed. As far as I'm aware they can be sown as long as you can find seed.

[no-lottie]

If anyone does have any spare seeds and would like to do a swap, I have lots to trade. eg. I've just done some 'Vittoria' Aubergine seed and have it drying, plus have tomato and chilli seed too. (See my Blog)