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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Kea on September 23, 2007, 12:25:29

Title: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: Kea on September 23, 2007, 12:25:29
I lifted one of my kumara plants to see what was underneath. The result will be useful at halloween to hang up as witches fingers  :-[

How is everyone else doing?
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: manicscousers on September 23, 2007, 16:49:00
leaving ours 'til Saddad pulls his  ;D
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: Tora on September 24, 2007, 12:08:22
I'm resisting the temptation of digging them up... :D The plants have very healthy growth so I'm being hopeful... :)
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: Kea on September 25, 2007, 18:23:56
I can't see which is bind weed and which is kumara at the moment. I might be lucky it might not be bindweed!
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: Rosyred on September 26, 2007, 13:52:37
When do you plant sweet potato? Sorting out the garage I found three starting to shoot as I will plant next year. I hear they take about 3 months to grow.
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: Kea on September 26, 2007, 15:55:27
I planted them at the end of May/early June about the same time as my squash. It has been a really bad year for squash so I'm not expecting much from the sweet potato either they both like lots of sunshine.

I wondered what would happen if i planted my 'fingers' next year assuming I managed to overwinter them without them rotting.
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: Tora on September 26, 2007, 16:22:09
I removed a bit of soil around the roots today and found no tuber at all. :-\

Kea, I think you are better off overwintering rooted shoots indoors rather than tubers. I would eat your fingers if I were you, better than nothing! :D
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: Kea on September 26, 2007, 16:24:06
I was going to try some for an experiment. i mean growing the fingers!
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: louise stella on September 27, 2007, 11:44:20
Quote from: manicscousers on September 23, 2007, 16:49:00
leaving ours 'til Saddad pulls his  ;D

LOL

Louise
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: Svea on September 28, 2007, 11:47:08
i have lots of growth on mine and will be lifting them as late as poss - before the first frosts.

i had over 10kg from two plants last year - even if this year's crop is slightly less prolific, i have 5 plants so we'll see. they certainly look happy enough to trail into the sqaushes and across the paths...
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: Tora on September 28, 2007, 16:27:59
Quote from: Svea on September 28, 2007, 11:47:08
i had over 10kg from two plants last year

That's amazing! Is it normal to get that much? Ohh, you've made me all excited, Svea! :D I will be gutted if I get none...  :(
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: bedrockdave on September 28, 2007, 16:40:44
thought of getting some to try next year . if they yield that good I'm definitely trying them . do they need any special treatment other than a sunny spot?
Title: Re: Kumara/Sweet potato
Post by: Svea on September 28, 2007, 20:24:33
they did very well because of the hot summer last year.

they are very easy maintenance - once they have rooted (which might mean an occaional watering) they need no attention at all - even when it was very hot and dry last summer they just got on with it. they do grow in african countries so i guess they dont need molly-coddeling