Your comments and tips

12 Jan 19, Grom1t (Australia - tropical climate)

I suspend (toothpicks help) a sweet potato partially in a glass of water. After 2 weeks of so I pick off the 8inch sprouts and put them in water. I plant them once they have plenty root. First time I planted before the dry and had an excellent crop of big potatoes after at least 6 .months. it's hard to know when to harvest. .my plants never go yellow. Anyone any advice? I thought I'd try growing in pots as I had a nice if small harvest of purple fleshed ones from a pot this morning - again after 9 months I think. Magnetic Island

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13 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

It does say harvest 15-17 weeks. Pick early if you want smaller size and pick later if you like the bigger ones.

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30 Oct 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Here is how they grow them commercially in sub tropical southern Queensland Australia. They hill the soil up with a 2' base and about 1' high - paddock looks like corrugated iron - wave pattern. They then take cuttings (called slips about 50-60cm long) of vine from a pre-existing growing plant. These are planted (in the top part of the mound) horizontally into the soil with just the tip sticking out of the soil. Keep well watered the first week or two until the plant starts growing. Good rich soil to start with and then do not fert again especially with N. You want root development not vine production. If looking for cuttings/slips/tubers ask friends/neighbours/produce companies/internet sites etc or start a tuber as stated here.

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26 Oct 18, Julie McLean (New Zealand - temperate climate)

I'm a very beginner gardener and want to try my hand at kumara . Your advice and comments are helpful and interesting. Thanks Julie.

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10 Mar 19, Andrea (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Hi Julie,I'm also a beginner so all the best with growing your kumera. I'm in chch so it will be a challenge I think !

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18 Oct 18, john ward (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

where can i get some orange kumara cuttings .Not easy to find im having problems trying to get them sprouting

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23 Oct 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Ask around nurseries or produce/farming depots /supply companies or phone some of them.

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02 Oct 18, Warren Leedes (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

Firstly thanks for the web site I would like to grow the different coloured Kumara, how do I go about getting seeds please? Any advice would be gratefully received Kind regards Warren Leedes

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04 Oct 18, Paul (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

Plant the tubers that you want to grow but in a separate bed. They will sprout lots of shoots which will also have roots near the base. When the shoots are 40 to 50 cm long put a fork under the tuber and gently lift it out. Separate the shoots and plant them in the bed you have prepared for them as indicated in the article above. Last year, before I knew this, I planted several tubers where I wanted them to grow but after learning the right method I dug up three and planted out about 50 slips. The slips can be left in water while you are waiting to plant them out and in a few days mine put out prolific roots where the base was under water. You can also start the sprouting inside, cutting the tops off tubers and putting the cut down in shallow water, then planting them out when they start to sprout. Roots will also start growing but later than the shoots. Look for the eyes in the tubers as they are where the shoots come from.

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08 Oct 18, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

Also you can use 50-60cm sections of the growing plants 6-8 week old and plant them along the ground with the tip out of the soil. Roots will grow from where each leaf joins the vine.

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