Harvested my last Yacon plant today that has been grown in a pot in the polytunnel.
3 kilo of quality roots with hardly any thin ones. The pot was 20 litre and I would say this is adequate but should be considered the minimum size. Maybe this is the best way to grow Yacon in this climate especially if the open ground is heavy clay as they were a devil to dig up without damaging the tubers.
(http://downtheplot.com/images/yacon_in_pot_2.jpg)
(http://downtheplot.com/images/yacon_tubers_2.jpg)
(http://downtheplot.com/images/yacon_tubers_3.jpg)
Hi Eristic
They look great. Well done!
Did you dig up your oca yet? I followed your example and grew some. They did very well, but I'm not sure when to dig them up.
Also, some of the tubers started to come to the surface. Is that normal? They look a bit small and greenish yellow. The leaves are still green and alive, even though a little frost got to them before I could cover them.
I would appreciate your expert advice. Thanks.
what a great harvest, whats the best way to store them and did you grow them in a pot on top of the 20L pot?
Quoteexpert advice
:P
It's only my second year growing Oca so I would hardly qualify as expert. As for harvest, I tipped some out of pots a few days ago to ease the impatience but the outside crop is due for harvest this weekend but will have to be postponed due to work commitments.
It is recommended that Oca is not dug until at least 2 weeks after the tops have been killed off. Several tubers tend to form at surface level and also along the stems but most will be below ground. A light covering of compost may assist with development and keep bright colours but the green is not toxic in the manner of green potatoes and at the end of the day they can be kept as stock tubers for next year.
My Oca were still going strong in the School's greenhouse last week... How do you use the Yacon? Like Sweet potato? Might give that a go as OH says the Oca tubers are a bit fiddly!
;D
So far all I have done is wash and peel the smaller roots, slice and fry. Produces a sweet chip. At the moment I'm a bit spoiled for choice in the kitchen and was saving the big ones for later experimenting with baking, boiling etc.
If memory serves, they can be used as dessert too.
Thanks eristic
I shall leave them undug a bit longer then.
And as far as exotic tubers are concerned I think you are the one with the most expertise on this forum.
Saddad is close though when it comes to sweet potatoes.
Nice of you to say so Garjan.... but I don't think that's right... all my sweet potato cuttings have keeled over and died so i'll be buying slips again!!
:-[
Does anyone have a couple of Yacon tubers they would be willing to sell me? I don't seem to be able to find any anywhere.
Thanks
Andrew
Yacon, what yacon - did not do at all well in 2008. Oca was reasonable. As for other strange ones, Ulluco appeared but we haven't delved deeper to see if there are any tubers.
Quote from: (a)ndy on January 20, 2009, 18:04:06
Does anyone have a couple of Yacon tubers they would be willing to sell me? I don't seem to be able to find any anywhere.
Thanks
Andrew
We bought ours from RealSeeds, along with Ulluco and Oca...
I was pleased with the Yacon and the Oca but the Ulluco refuses to co-operate. Plants grow well but seem reluctant to produce any tubers.
2008 was an odd year weather-wise. Not overly disappointed. Some things did well - pumpkins!
What does it taste like Eristic, I've only heard of it recently. ;D ;D ;D
The taste is a bit hard to describe and I'm still finding out how to best use it.
Raw it is crunchy and is similar to an under ripe pear with an underlying sweet taste. I've tried it in slices on top of bread-n-butter pud to great effect but have been too busy eating up everything else to venture much further.
I will say that so far at least, the tubers have kept perfectly in a lidded bucket and given that they cannot grow I'm hopeful of a storage life into summertime when it may be of use in salad meals.
It should be possible to process the tubers into syrup but as yet I've not tried it.
Cheers. ;D ;D ;D
Thanks for the replies.
I am afraid that reel seeds don't have any as their crop failed this year. So I was hoping some members may be able to spare a couple of tubers to get me started.
Here's to hoping.
Andrew
Help, :o
What is Yacon [ sweet potato / ] ::)
and Oca ? Help an old girl out here -- senior learning curve, ;D
floss x
Oca is a small edible tuber from Peru. It needs to be left in the light to reduce the Oxalic acid content. I have some if you want some Flossy... just sent Garjan some in Netherlands... :)
I have just bought 4 *very mini* ocas tubers from Edulis (at the Whitchurch potato day) for £1 each - ouch!!! hope they do something!
I noticed they were also selling Yacon (didn't buy any tho)
mat
Quote from: flossy on January 26, 2009, 19:28:03
Help, :o
What is Yacon [ sweet potato / ] ::)
and Oca ? Help an old girl out here -- senior learning curve, ;D
floss x
Have a look at my web pages for further details.
Yacon (http://downtheplot.com/yacon.php)
Oca (http://downtheplot.com/oca.php)
Thank you saddad for your kind offer, I am overwhelmed at the moment with developing
my garden into a mini lottie - may I come back to you please ?
Eristic thank you so much for introducing me to your super web site, have had a most
enjoyable read this morning on all the info offered -- have ' saved ' you for future
referance,
Thanks both again,
floss x
Praise be the Lord. I'm saved. I'm saved. :D
Eristic,
Don't hold your breath, ;D
floss xxx
My Yacon in pots (started off in wee glasshouse) have popped through the soil. I have moved them outside as my tomatoes will now be needing the greengouse. I have a space I can submerge their pots but wanted to ask some advice from those who have grown these before...
..when you grow in pots are you submerging half way up then carring into glasshouse when frosts come?
....I have seen Eristic, that you mention a minimum of 20L pots...is the height significant...I have sen garden trugs that are 40l and 25 l but they are fairly flexible and shallow ( onlyabout 2 to 2.5 foot high? Any good?
I wasn't sure if you had some in a smaller pot on top of a bigger pot, judging by some of the photos?
.....if they stay submerged in their pots in the garden what are you using for frost protection?
ps what spread do yhey get? I've read about spacoing but wasn't sure of the plant itself's spread
Thanks all.
Jackie
My best is now about 2' in all directions.... :)
Yacon doesn't spread as such but does get to be a large plant and will need about 1 metre between centres. They will grow quite happily in the ground but digging them up without breaking the tubers is difficult.
This year I am growing them in 30ltr pots to see how they fare. Once pots get much larger than that they become too heavy to cart about if filled with soil based compost. There is no need to submerge the pots so long as they are stable and can support a heavy plant 4-5 ft tall.
If plants are cut down and pots are tipped out in late Sept. the tubers should be ready for harvest. These can be taken off and the crown replanted in a smaller pot to keep growing into the winter.
Current state of play.
(http://downtheplot.com/images/yacon_30l_june.jpg)
My best plant looks like that but is in the greenhouse border... :)
Thanks both for this, makes it easier o choose siting for it. Good point re weight of pots...my husbands back thanks you ;)
very jealous of those yacon plants. mine is only about 6inch tall. here's hoping to a quick burst of growth.