Mashua - Help!

[Rob08]

My order of 5 mashua tubers has arrived from B&T World Seeds a lot sooner than I anticipated.  They are currently packaged in a zip lock bag with what looks like coir or some other dry plant matter.

I cannot plant these out for another month, is there anyway I can store them safely until then, or should I just pot them up and transplant when I am ready?

[Rob08]

[Rob08]

If it helps, these tubers/rhizomes look almost exactly like Jerusalem artichokes.  The plant requires warmer weather to grow and would typically be grown in a polytunnel or greenhouse to get a reasonable crop but can be grown as an ornamental outdoors - it has lovely flowers.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

[Rob08]

Just topping again.

Would be grateful for any advice or even best guess.

[Barnowl]

My best guess would be to just keep them in a cool but not icy place, like spuds.
perhaps even the fridge. Don't they come from the Andes, so presumably aren't too sensitive.

How about writing to the supplier?

[Tee Gee]

Why not plant one per 5" pot ( or a pot/tray suited to their size) and grow on a windowsill in a cool room with no direct sunlight.

Then come planting time remove them from the pot and grow them on in their final quarters.

From what I have read of them I guess you might be able to take cuttings from them in a similar way you would do dahlias (see pics below).

Alternatively I guess you might be able to take  tip cuttings as you would do with nasturtiums, I am not sure as I have not grown them before but from what I have read of the them I can't think of any reason why you can't.

It would be very much a case of 'nothing ventured nothing gained' at least this treatment will keep them from drying out before planting out time.





Took these pictures this morning and was surprised how far on my cutting material had developed.

Looks like I will be taking cuttings from cuttings this year!

[Barnowl]

Here's an interesting note from Wiki..


In Colombia, it is planted as a companion crop to repel pests in potato fields.

[Rob08]

Thanks for the suggestions.  They are much appreciated.

My sister is coming over this weekend to fetch the cat so I am sending them over with her and she will pot them up and get them started indoors for me.