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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: whittal85 on March 13, 2012, 20:10:41

Title: Oca (Oxalis tuberosa)
Post by: whittal85 on March 13, 2012, 20:10:41
Hi all,

I had a very lovely present from a patient today- an oca tuber potted up for me to keep inside until the frosts have finished. I'm having to read up about it as I've never heard of it before! Has anyone had success growing it and have and gems of advice/information for me?

Ta

Amie
Title: Re: Oca (Oxalis tuberosa)
Post by: saddad on March 13, 2012, 21:00:23
It need a very long season... so it's good you have it started in a pot...  :)
Title: Re: Oca (Oxalis tuberosa)
Post by: chriscross1966 on March 14, 2012, 12:45:19
It does need a long season and you also need to be patient at the end of it...

The growth habit is a bit wierd, it will flop over suddenly in mid season (and it's supposed to do that) so it needs space sideways around the bed. At the end of the year you have to leave it a few weeks after the frost has knocked down the foliage... it pulls all the goodness back from the appraently dead foliage and stores it in the tubers so if you dig it up straight after the frost it is disappointing...
Title: Re: Oca (Oxalis tuberosa) HELP!
Post by: whittal85 on March 29, 2012, 08:37:34
Hi,

Well the oca I was given in a pot is shooting up indoors and I don't have any instructions what to do with it so thought I'd pick everyone's brains a little further.

Do I transplant it now into a bigger pot or plant out? Do I keep just the one plant as it is?

Any help would be great as I don't want to waste this lovely little present.

Ta

Amie
Title: Re: Oca (Oxalis tuberosa)
Post by: Ellen K on March 29, 2012, 08:59:38
T&M are selling Oca this year and are doing a growing guide, though I don't know how informative it is ..... but here you go:

http://www.thompson-morgan.com//how-to-grow-oca-new-zealand-yam
Title: Re: Oca (Oxalis tuberosa)
Post by: whittal85 on March 29, 2012, 09:28:21
Hi Ellen, cheers a really nippy website there :-)

Amie x
Title: Re: Oca (Oxalis tuberosa)
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 29, 2012, 11:20:27
Pot it up if you have space, otherwise plant it out, but be prepared to cover it if necessary.
Title: Re: Oca (Oxalis tuberosa)
Post by: saddad on March 31, 2012, 19:36:42
Potted mine up today...  :)