Ulluco

[Jayb]

I have got a few spare ulluco tubers if anyone is interested in growing these. I was thinking of about 6 or 7 small/medium tubers depending on how many people want them, which should be enough to grow some to eat and for seed if you like them.

They are just starting to sprout now so its either eat them or share them  ;D

If your intrested send a pm, I don't need a swap but sae would be great.

[Jayb]

[saddad]

Tempting... but if Eristic can't get them to grow I stand no chance!!  :-[

[Jayb]

 ;D, first time luck for me I feel! Crop isn't brilliant but a bit hard to gauge as naughty mice/voles took a liking to them!

[Eristic]

I've not yet given up on them and I think they are well worth the effort. Mine grow well enough but tuber production is poor. Probably a soil chemistry problem.

Perhaps JayB would spill the beans regarding method used.

If there are any left after the initial shareout, I would be interested in a few as it is also possible that my stock is of low productivity.

[Jayb]

I think its me who should be asking you for tips  :) but if this is in anyway a help;

I grew about half of mine inside polytunnel, just happened I had space at the time. Initially chitted on windowsill and then planted up individually in pots and grown on frostfree. Once they filled their pots they were planted in the soil about 18 inches apart on 3/05, chicken manure pellets raked in. I also planted some out much later approx June/July (no real difference in harvest, but plants much neater)

Pretty much left them to get on with it, plants grew on strongly until they sort of flopped over, stem length continued to increase. They flowered in the autumn and I harvested about 21/12, could have left the ones in poly longer but as I said slight problem with mice!

One thing I did note was in one area they managed to grow approx 1 metre across into some soil which was very friable with a lot of compost added. They cropped particularly well here (well in comparison).

As mentioned before crop not abundant, with quite a lot of small tubers which didn't have a chance to develop, but I am hoping with an improvement in husbandry and selection of tubers, cropping will increase.

This year I am going to prepare the soil more as mine is a bit on the heavy side. Also compare earthing up and if I get around to it covering, with black sheeting. All a bit of a faddle....but hey I think they are worth it.

[thifasmom]

i've pmed you :)

[Jayb]

Having a bit of a glitch moment, if you don't get a pm shortly I will try again tomorrow!!!!!!

[thifasmom]

got it thanks :)

[Pesky Wabbit]

Do they favour heavy soil ?

I wouldn't mind a few, but I have light sand soil. Spuds and dahlias do well though.
What do you think, is it worth me trying ?

[Jayb]

Sorry don't have experience  of  growing them in different soils to know which they favour if any. I would have thought a light soil would suit them perhaps with added compost. If potatoes do well you should not have any problems. Early and late frosts would be more of a problem depending on where you are located.

[Pesky Wabbit]

Snowy Birmingham.  ( Expecting 10-15cm by the morning ! )

Thinking of growing Ulluco in the poly tunnel. Would it take up a large (meters) space, or can it grow in just a small corner ?

[saddad]

Perhaps I could grow some in the big Greenhouse...  ::)
I'll pm you  ;D

[Jayb]

Pesky, they do take up a bit of room, I planted mine about 18inches apart, with rows about 2ft +. They certainly filled the space! They are well behaved to begin with and then you blink, they flop and double in size  :o

Saddad  ;D

[saddad]

Envelopes in the post Jayb... and a book of 4 1st Class.. just put any spare back in the envelope...  ;D

[Jayb]

Cheers Saddad, I don't think they will be too much, just no good at guessing!!!


All gone now!

[saddad]

Thanks they arrived today...  ;D

[taurus]

Many thanks Jayb they arrived safely :) :)