Oca Ahoy!.... Thanks to Jayb

[Twoflower]

I have just dug up one row from my allotment.................Wow i now have a banana box of little red/pink tubers ;D Can i leave the other row in the ground until i have eaten the first box or should i dig them all up now?

[Twoflower]

[Jayb]

If you are able to harvest them and they are of a good size, I'd dig them up. They store well and it will stop anything else having a munch!

[Jayb]

Here's a few of photos

Growing earlier in the year
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Oca is on the top right hand side
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Freshly picked, washed and waiting to be roasted
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[saddad]

I recognise the Oca and presumably Ulluco underneath... is that "crosnes" to the left (Aka Chinese Artichokes?)  :-\

[Jayb]

Sorry, got distracted, I should have added the others in, 1st picture two types of Mashua, 2nd as you rightly noted is Ulluco and the 3rd Yacon

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Have you had a chance to try yours yet?

[saddad]

Have you scrubbed the yacon? Ours is dark brown/black...  :-\

[Sholls]

JayB I think I have tuber envy.  ;D

Out of interest, how 'peppery' do you find Mashua? The opinions I've read online vary dramatically.  

[Jayb]

Out of interest, how 'peppery' do you find Mashua? The opinions I've read online vary dramatically.  

They can be a bit savage raw, but they do vary a bit! Cooked they are much more refined. I first tried one raw and it caught me at the back of my throat wow my eyes watered ;D I like them, a likeable/interesting flavour.

No Saddad, they are just rinsed, perhaps its just different soil types, although mine is fairly clay. But did you like them? I think they were darker last year though?!

[Robert_Brenchley]

Does anyone know whether the tubers will grow after being frozen? I don't know how deeply the soil is frozen; I'd need a pickaxe to make any impression on it. I'm just a bit concerned about whether I'll have any fit to swap when it does thaw.

[lottie lou]

Jayb, did you grow your in the ground or in containers

[Jayb]

I don't know if they will be ok Robert. Simon Hickman has them listed as Zone 7 for hardiness. I had some volunteers grow this year so they must have survived last years frost ok. Guess we will find out, I've got some left to harvest too, admittedly in a polytunnel, but the door is open!

All grown in the ground some outside others in a tunnel. Thinking of trying a few in pots next year to compare though.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Anyone know what winter temperatures Zone 7 implies?

[Jayb]

I think its -10 to -15, so quite cold :-\

[Robert_Brenchley]

They should be OK then.

[Digindep]

 Having read through this thread a few time now, been on line, tried various suppliers ect....they are either sold out or had crop failures ...
Where/who  would you advise to try, for a reasonable price ...one or two I've found that have them in stock, simply Price Prohibative ...10 for £15 Huh...!!!! plus P&P......
Cheers......

[Jayb]

I had some of my original tubers from Real Seeds, I don't know of anywhere else.

I know others have been growing them and I gave out some tubers last year, so someone else may offer some in swaps. At the moment I've got enough to eat and some already accounted for. But I don't know how many more I will be able to harvest, due to the weather, I guess it may be similar for others too.

If I have any spares later on I'll post in Swaps section. Also might be worth you putting a post in there to see if any spare :)

[Digindep]

Cheers Jayb....don't realy mind purchasing them...IF I can find a supplier with some in stock...
If you guys are having problems lifting them, because of the weather...
maybe that answers the question, why they don't seem readily available...
Thanks again for answering.....

[Robert_Brenchley]

I may have some to swap before long. I was saving them for Christmas, and I haven't had a chance to lift any yet!

[mat]

I got mine last year from Edulis and from ebay.  The ebay ones were far better quality  :o 

I hope they're okay... they were growing in potato bags really well... then the frosts hit in December and they've never thawed out... the coldest it's been is -13.5 and that was for 2 nights...  when everything has thawed I'll be looking to see what is left...

[chriscross1966]

I may have some to swap before long. I was saving them for Christmas, and I haven't had a chance to lift any yet!

Ditto