Allotments 4 All

Yes, welcome Sean and make sure that chair is really comfy - this site is just sooooo addictive  ;D. Lovely family btw.

Tricia

To bring this thread back - has anybody actually eaten any yet? ???  If so, what's it like?

At last! people who talk about allotments!
Many thanks to everyone for the warm welcome, much appreciated, and special thanks for the advice.
I have eaten plenty of oca and mashua, mainly with chuño, a naturally freeze-dried potato (picture here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawkey/1840846705/in/set-72157602872026496/
they aren't very like spuds, not as creamy or floury, they a slightly more watery and at the same time can be a bit fibrous especially towards the tip, and some people spit out this little hard tip.

What do they taste like - and have you any good recipes?

Quote from: seanhawkey on November 23, 2007, 21:49:18
Many thanks to everyone for the warm welcome, much appreciated, and special thanks for the advice.
Redclanger - I have eaten plenty of them, mainly with chuño, a naturally freeze-dried potato (picture here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawkey/1840846705/in/set-72157602872026496/
At last! people who talk about allotments!

Oooh - that looks good. :)

Just spotted - Real Seeds have their Oca stock in now. Just ordered mine!

Right then, form an orderly queue!

;D

As promised I've finally done a web page covering the growing of oca this year http://david-frary.com/Plot/oca.php available here.

Not done a lot of cooking with them yet but a pan of damaged ones were turned into a very nice mashed oca. May be too sweet for some of you but I believe there is a future with these.

I have been waiting for this.

Excellent article Eristic. Just one question - what about initial ground preparation?

The plants have a mass of fibrous roots that go down about one spade depth so I do not think any special preparation is required other than the removal of perennial weeds. This was my first season with them and I was more concerned about keeping my investment alive. One mistake was to plant far too close to the path. I planted the row along the border just over a foot in but they eventually spread right across the two ft path. The initial growth is erect and dignified but end up as a ground hugging mass of foliage.

Next year with lots more tubers to play with I will be able to experiment with different methods of culture, including containers. As for fertiliser, again this needs experimentation and possibly mine had far too much manure making all the foliage lush. Time will tell.

Great article, I just got round to ordering mine today, and this will come in useful next year.  I like your thoughts on interplanting.

Cheers Eristic, great info, and nice to see your experience step by step. My order arrived the other day, so I'll be keeping your link as a reference.

Mine are still in the main greenhouse and I know there are loads of tiny bits from surface rooting so send us a pm and I should be able to mail you some before Xmas...
;D

hiya, are these as bad as ja's for people with irritable bowel..if not, I'll give them a go  ;D

Not another trumpet involuntary!

;D

I'm new here, and have been growing oca for years now:

Frank

And the orange ones:

The red and the orange come from realseeds, they obtained the white one from me,
Frank

Welcome aboard Frank... great looking tubers...
;D

I bought some white ones from Real Seeds.

Blimey, that means I'm having Frank's babies...

;D

Many thanks Saddad - tubers arrived today. When should I plant them? I can put them in pots in my GH till the Spring if that would be good.

Tricia

I would put them in compost but keep them cool, or they will sprout, but not in the greenhouse as they are frost sensitive.... the tops would be killed off in this weather in a cold greenhouse..
;D