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yams and sweet potatoes
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Tristan



Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire
PostPosted: Mon Jan 31, 05 9:32 pm    Post subject: yams and sweet potatoes Reply with quote
    

Has anyone come across seeds or tubers for yams and sweet potatoes (other than Dioscorea species)? I'm looking for more experimental subjects. Hope that doesn't set google off

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Mon Jan 31, 05 9:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I tried growing the shoots from a sweet potato last year. The shoots grew to start with and then didn't do much. Do you plan to try the 'slips' available from the seed companies?

Tristan



Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire
PostPosted: Mon Jan 31, 05 9:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If I can find any

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Mon Jan 31, 05 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Last year Marshalls were selling them and they were advertised in the Kitchen Garden mag I think. As they don't like the cold I don't think they are shipped until April or even May.

Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Tue Feb 01, 05 7:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If you have a look on the Kitchen Garden's forum there'll be details of several people growing sweet potatoes last year from slips they produced themselves. Don't remember how successful they were offhand, or when they produced the slips, but do recall that you need to give a bought potato a good scrub as it has either natural or sprayed on inhibitors...then placed in a damp tin of sand. But there are other methods.

Can't see any slips in the Marshalls catalogue I have but will keep an eye out in KG - the next issue is due any day now. If you don't get that mag let me know and I'll have a look in our back issues, I'm sure there was an article about them last year.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Tue Feb 01, 05 10:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

www.vidaverde.co.uk sold slips last year.

Tristan



Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire
PostPosted: Tue Feb 01, 05 12:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

couldn't see any on vidaverde, but the list is in danger of getting bigger. Is there such a thing as plantaholics anonymous? I know they are out there somewhere!

Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Tue Feb 01, 05 12:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If all else fails, T&M have them, order by May so you've loads of time.

Not cheap though - I'd definitely investigate sprouting your own, Pipppppa recommended them on GQT last year some time, you could search their archives to see if she suggested growing your own.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Tue Feb 01, 05 12:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The commercial slips should be from plants more suited to this country, i.e. from USA stock. Our home made slips didn't do well last year. If I remember correctly you get about 10 slips and I would think you would only need a few. An ideal plant to share round with friends.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Tue Feb 01, 05 12:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Tristan wrote:
couldn't see any on vidaverde


Not usually listed till later in the year.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Wed Feb 02, 05 6:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Just had a reply from Ben at VidaVerde he says they're not selling them this year, he advised buying one in supermarket and leaving in an airing cupboard till it sprouts, when the sprouts are big enough break them off and pot them up.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Thu Feb 03, 05 10:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I asked him how long they took and he said several weeks, they usually advise lanting in May so end Feb, beginning March is probably the ideal time to start them

Tristan



Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire
PostPosted: Thu Feb 03, 05 12:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thanks, I'll give that a try

selfsufficientish



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 364
Location: Bristol
PostPosted: Thu Feb 03, 05 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I posted a bit about growing from shop bought sweet potatoes on my forum https://www.selfsufficientish.com/Forum/about146.html a while back. Incidently yams and sweet potatoes are two different vegetables and sweet pots are often wrongly called Yams. Fascinating

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Thu Feb 03, 05 12:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It may be worth getting the tuber now as it took us about 6 months to get any shoots when we tried.

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