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Ever grown Oca?

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  • #1

    Ever grown Oca?

    I bought 10 Oca tubers from a stall at the Cardiff RHS show in April. Planted them in a dustbin, half full with old growbag compost soon afterwards, watered them when they looked floppy and "earthed" them up with straw until the dustbin was full. The dustbin stayed in the greenhouse all year. The top growth is still healthy and, actually quite attractive. A quick lift of the straw reveals several new, pinky white tubers near the surface - and I've pulled one up to have a better look at it. Its the size of the top joint of my thumb! (I don't do real measurements)
    Has anyone else grown Oca and can advise me what to do next? I have found this link which is very helpful but there's nothing like talking to a real Grape.

    Unusual Vegetables. Oka.
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  • #2
    Used to grow Oca but lost my tubers thanks to the last two winters Wait until the frosts have knocked down the foliage and the tubers will swell. Then lift the tubers. Wash, steam and add a knob of butter - yum

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    • #3
      Nope, but plan to buy some from RS soon (when they harvest their lot - which I think is around the start of december).
      Last edited by chris; 02-11-2011, 05:37 PM.

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      • #4
        Yes. Once the frosts have knocked the foliage down, leave it about 4 weeks and then harvest. The starch gets absorbed back into the tubers and they double in size between the first frost and a month later.

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        • #5
          But do not leave them to get a lot of hard frost, or you will find the tubers turn to mush.

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          • #6
            Well, I thought this was a typo at first as I had never heard of them, however they do look facinating. I really like farty chokes but the read-up mentions a lemony taste? So they are different enough to be worth a try then?
            Fantasy reminds us that the soul is sane but the universe is wild and full of marvels

            http://thefrontyardblog.blogspot.com/

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            • #7
              I didn't have much success with them, only got tiny tubers. Don't think I would try again, they took up a lot of ground for such a small return.

              Of course it's always possible that I'm just rubbish at growing them
              My blog - http://carol-allotmentheaven.blogspot.com/

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              • #8
                Thank you all for your advice. It obvious that I must be a little more patient before I dig them up. The small one which I pulled up is about the same size as the ones I bought for planting so I'm very pleased to hear that they have a lot of swelling to do - its hardly worth nibbling as it is. It does however, have a few little shoots from its eyes and a long root/shoot (as you have when chitting a potato) at the pointy end! I'm going to replant it in another pot and see what it does.

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