Oca

[VirginVegGrower]

Sorry to have to start a new thread, but the search function would not allow me to search for oca - too short a word apparently!
So managed to find a couple of threads, but nothing that gave me the advice I was looking for....so questions are these:-

- anyone consider them worth the initial expense?
- can they be purchased from Asian/oriental markets?
- are they a viable UK crop (yields on the threads look low)
- I have friends going to NZ soon...can they be brought back? Is March too late/do they need pre-chitting?
- ground or containers?

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I was given my initial tubers and found the yields very good (I grew them in pots - plant them in pots end of January and then into greenhouse protected by fleece and bubble wrap). Didn't chit (never occurred to me). Don't know about bringing them back from NZ (how did Real Seeds get their NZ strain of Oca?) The reason I don't grow them now is I don't have anywhere suitable to store tubers over winter to replant for the next year.

[planetologist]

In my experience the yield is lower than of potatoes, but it's something different to grow, and I've never heard anyone say they got any disease in them. If you don't mind getting tiny ones (I always reason they are clones, so there's not much selection for smallness going on, but can't say for sure), then pm me your address and I'll mail you some. I pot mines up at harvest (otherwise they dry out), then keep in a frost free place until they sprout with light once they've sprouted, plant out after the last frost, harvest two weeks after the tops have frozen and before the soil freezes. I still have some in the garden, and will try to harvest them sooner rather than later because the weather forecast says it's going to get colder.

[snohare]

I have found that my yields have been quite low, but then the first year a lot were frosted, and since then I have not paid much attention to the survivors; simply put them in any spare corner, and left them to it. I do get the feeling that they appreciate extra warmth from being in a greenhouse or being netted - mine have always been "naturists" and seem to take an awful lot of time to show any signs of activity, except at the warmest time of year.
I came across a website for a guy in London who was growing ocas, ulloco and something else exotic, the name of which I don't remember (also sold via Real Seeds and grown as a crop in NZ); his yields were evidently very good. That was growing in raised beds.

[veg man]

Hi try this link hope it helps Vegetable Seeds : Unusual Tubers: Oca, Ulluco etc

[veggiechicken]

Have a look at this http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ate_62540.html