Oca update

[veggiechicken]

I bought 10 Oca tubers last April, let them chit a bit, planted them in a dustbin in the greenhouse, waited until today to dig them up as the foliage was still alive before Christmas and unearthed less tubers than I had started with! Some of them have been part-eaten but there was no sign of wildlife in the dustbin.
Since some of the plant stems were still alive, I've cut them into sections and put them in water to see whether they will root. If so, I will plant them out in the hope of increasing my stock. The small Ocas will also go back in the ground and I will eat ONE!!! YeaH!!!

[veggiechicken]

Photo of my Oca crop

Photo of my Oca crop

[zazen999]

Whoops.

The thing with OCA is - they don't bulk up until the foliage is frosted and then the starch is drawn back down the 'tubes' into the tubers and that's how they bulk up....so if the foliage is still going they will be small.

[veggiechicken]

I just knew you'd say that! The weather is so mild I may have to wait until spring for a frost! Actually, I'm glad I dug the tubers up as so many were eaten and there were lots of little red bits in the soil that may have been the remains of others. At least a few have been salvaged to fight another day. Will report back this time next year!!

[jackyspratty]

I dug mine too soon as well but did have an ok crop. I had a furtle ans knew they would be small in size but the first plant had a lot of holey tubers happily being munched so I hedged my bets and dug them all up. I figured that if I had enough to save then I hadnt really lost anything. Also Ive used it as opportunity to give some to others about 6 people so far! They are expensive to buy and the more of us growing them the more we can share them about. I have had a coupkle of dishes so far too. Had them steames with a coriander pesto which was delicious and have also had them raw thinly sliced in a salad and a few roasted. I like them a lot and love their colour when you dig them up in the dismal winter months.

[veggiechicken]

You've done a lot better than I have. I had a furtle too before Christmas and I could see the glowing red tubers in the soil. I'm sure there were more then than there were yesterday. I can't spare any of mine to taste - well, just one teeny little one.

[veggiechicken]

Further Oca update!!

My Oca crop was frankly pathetic this winter! They were in a dustbin. However, when I rootled around in the bin I found lots of teeny little ocas, smaller than a pea, and potted them into modules. About half of them have sprouted and I'm going to let them run wild in the garden. I also have some new fullsize tubers to plant out.

My question to the Oca growers is, could you use them as ground cover, perhaps around peas or beans, or sprouts and kale (tall crops - not roots).

[zazen999]

Yes definitely.

I have about another 10 yacon I found tonight and about 60 ocas that need to be potted up and hopefully sold on!

[veggiechicken]

Thanks zaz I'm thinking about creating an edible tubers, permanent bed, for the yacon and oca, maybe the JAs too, so that it doesn't matter if I don't dig them all out each year, they can do their stuff the following year. Would it work?

[zazen999]

Why not? Sounds a good plan to me.

[veggiechicken]

It'll have to be in partial shade under the apple trees, but come Autumn, and leaf fall, I'm hoping that these winter roots will catch up.
Nothing ventured.........