Allotments 4 All

Robert_Brenchley · April 07, 2009, 15:25:30

I've just acquired tubers from two swops in a single week. Obviously, I'm doomed to grow the stuff! I'm starting them in pots, and I assume that once we're past the late frosts I just plant them out and forget about them till December. Am I on the right lines?

Robert_Brenchley · April 07, 2009, 15:25:30

Eristic · April 07, 2009, 15:37:40

After two seasons of experimenting with oca my advice is to plant the tubers straight out into the soil. The tubers can withstand quite hard and prolonged frost (safe to about -5 prolonged). I am now growing mine on top of ridges as I found that the one row I did this way last year produced the best results and was easiest to harvest.

Make the ridge first then dib the tubers in about 2" deep. I'll try to get a picture for this evening but I've already got them well covered on my website.

Robert_Brenchley · April 07, 2009, 18:37:25

Thanks. I don't have anywhere to put them yet, but I should have by the time they emerge.

cjb02 · April 07, 2009, 20:35:17

I grew oca last year for the first time. The crop was poor (in Yorkshire) However they were grown in the shade of some runner beans which I think is where I might have gone wrong.

I am having another go this year, so I think I will try growing them on ridges, well away from the runner beans. However I have started them off in pots already and will then move them to the garden once established.

Eristic · April 07, 2009, 20:50:46

Photos as promised.

Two ridges at the right-hand side have red oca, the three under the netting have orange ones. four small ridges in front of the netting are Desiree spuds.

Picture below shows the emerging shoots.

saddad · April 08, 2009, 16:23:06

Where have they gone??? They were there yesterday....

Eristic · April 08, 2009, 21:03:47

What's up saddad, cooked your seed stock by mistake?

cjb02. Did you leave the plants in the ground long enough? They must have at least a couple of weeks after the frosts have completely killed the foliage to make sure the tubers form.

saddad · April 08, 2009, 21:14:30

No my comp wasn't showing the pictures.... it is now :-\

cjb02 · April 09, 2009, 22:08:23

I think so. I left them in till mid December and it was very muddy, wet and cold and the oca plant was very very dead when I dug them up. just a poor harvest I think. I have took the largest and planted those this year. although Realseeds stated when I got the seeds from them that it didnt matter if you planted the largest or smallest, the harvest would still be the same.

watch this space as they say

Twoflower · April 09, 2009, 22:11:39

What's oca? ???

Eristic · April 09, 2009, 22:55:16

For those who do not know, oca is one of the new kids on the block.

QuoteI left them in till mid December and it was very muddy, wet and cold

This is the primary reason I am growing them on top of ridges now. All I will need to do is get angry with the scuffle to break the hill then quickly pick the tubers up before my paws freeze.

For more info and lots of photos see my website here. Oca

Twoflower · April 10, 2009, 15:44:52

So what do they taste like?

Eristic · April 10, 2009, 15:51:59

Oca.

Twoflower · April 10, 2009, 16:00:07

ok silly question but i've never heard of it before!

gwynleg · April 10, 2009, 18:32:42

They're meant to taste like lemony new potatoes - seeing this thread reminded me I havent tried any of the crop from last year. Hadnt grown them before and I only had v small crop so might try again this year

hopalong · April 10, 2009, 18:41:10

The information on Eristic's website is excellent. I also found the following link quite useful - it includes some comments on the taste, including the effect that cooking has on taste:

http://www.ocatuber.co.uk/

I'm growing mine along the edge of my potato bed. Planted them straight into the ground on 19 March.

Twoflower · April 10, 2009, 18:52:48

They sound great but how do i get some?

hopalong · April 10, 2009, 19:17:49

I and others got some through a seed swap. You can usually get them from the real seed catalogue - link below - but I see they've sold out. Sorry!

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/unusualtubers.html

gwynleg · April 11, 2009, 14:24:29

I have got some oca you can have twoflower (they are starting to sprout but should be ok) - do you want to pm me with your address?

Hector · May 30, 2009, 10:52:10

Eristic, been reading on your site about the 1.5 metre ridge approach.

Do you mean that's the overall width but a narrower apex you plant one row into (9 inch spacing) OR is it a flat topped ridge that you plant more than one row into, again 9 inch spacing?

I like the idea of avoiding heavy digging in freezing conditions.

Also, on another site it says pefers semil shade...are yours all in direct sun?

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Oca