July 2, 2024

VIDEO: Harvesting and Growing Oca – New Zealand Yam


Today we are harvesting a new vegetable we have grown to see how well it did as well as showing you how we grew them. Something different and fun. If you are interested in the Unusual Vegetable book you can take a look here: http://amzn.to/1JXKSh1

Take a look at my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HuwsGardenNursery

28 thoughts on “VIDEO: Harvesting and Growing Oca – New Zealand Yam

  1. great little video. I grow these because I am allergic to potatoes. I leave them in the ground till I want to eat them, taking one plant out at a time. they seem happy in the ground, even though our soil is heavy clay, and the Derbyshire winter can be chilly. I do a few plants in big pots for emergency use if there is a lot of snow or the ground freezes. when I dig more than I can eat quickly, I parboil them and freeze for later, though they are really only good for mash afterwards (bubble and squeak!). a lot of those which don't get dug up come back next year, even save the planting!

  2. I've just potted my tubers up on the window sill – could I put them straight into a potato bag outside do you think? Or is it to risky frost wise? I was given some tubers last November and had a taste of them raw – amazingly zesty and savoury, much more flavour than a potato IMO.

  3. that looked like a great harvest. I recently brought some of these to plant (I'm in Australia) and have planted most and now waiting for them to grow. Id been a little concerned I may of planted them too deep or done the wrong thing by planting them straight out into the garden but are now reassured all is fine after watching this video. I cant wait to taste what these are like, everyone Ive spoken to have said they are great snacks.

  4. new to internet just found you am in highlands scotland liked video wish could find more for our climate am going SS by next summer never seen thoseor tasted but look good seem easy

  5. Hi from NZ, I love yams! never knew the were called Oca. I always look forward to having roasted lamb with roasted yams in the winter

  6. Great video! We've been growing Oca and lots of other unusual tubes for some years now. Very productive, great flavor and even nice looking plants during the growing season. 😀

  7. Oca – New Zealand Yam, originated in the Andes, in Peru and Bolivia, I think I finally found the mystery veggie I came upon in Toluca, Estado de Mexico and now I see why it thrives in cold places, Mexico State is very high altitude and colder than other parts of the country, in Toluca they're called 'papas del campo' translated: field potatoes, lol….hehehehe….no originality here with names. Thanks for sharing this COOL Video Huw Richards, thumbs up and greetings from Mexico. 🙂

  8. Grew a red variety in 2020. Cropped well, but mostly small to medium tubers with a few large. They seem pest-free, apart from some late season slug damage.They are a bit of a fiddle to clean, roasted the taste is rather insipid and texture soggy, but at least they are something fresh from the plot in the weeks before Christmas. In the interests of fairness, I'm trying a second (white) variety this year, but if unsuccessful will go down the road of Autumn planted 'new' potatoes and/or sweet potatoes.

  9. Thanks for the information. I live in Northern USA and would like to
    know how long from planting to Harvest please. I want to know how long I
    will have to keep them indoors. Thanks

  10. Oca (we pronounce it Oh ka) was thing one thing in the fruit & veg shop I choose to steal as a 2 yo – from my stroller,. Could have reached yummy fruit or even a carrot, but raw 'yams' was my favourite. I prefer them roasted now..Trying to grow them in hot dry Australia.. wish me luck.

  11. I grew Oca for the first time this season. I put 3 tubers into each of four 30 litre pots. I harvested the first pot today (30th November) following the snowy couple of days that we've had here in the north of the England which had knocked the foliage right back. Got a got harvest but quite a lot (around 40%) had some pest damage – looked mostly like slugs eating the tubers. So, quite happy in terms of the yield but very definitely not pest free.

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