Growing Yam/Oca, also Oka

Oxalis tuberosa : Oxalidaceae / the wood sorrel family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                    P  

(Best months for growing Yam/Oca in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Plant tubers
  • Plant tubers about 5cm (1.5") deep covered with soil. Best planted at soil temperatures between 63°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 12 - 18 inches apart
  • Harvest in 15-20 weeks. Leave in the ground until foliage has completely died down so tubers reach maximum size.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best in separate bed

Your comments and tips

23 May 10, stuart cooney (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
thank you john, i would love a few tubers to plant in my garden in south east qld, i tink they will do alright here,as ihave grown other types of tubers that that are common in nz,but have not beenable to get any yam tubers to try. thanks heaps
11 Oct 09, Valerie (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Yams are easy to grow - just save some from the fruit and vegetable depatment at the sumermarket. Cheaper that trying to get them from the sead supplier.
07 Oct 09, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
GreenHarvest (QLD) say they will have yams available again next June. None left this year, unfortunately!
07 Oct 09, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Di and Terry, A couple of earlier comments gave possible sources of yams. Good hunting
06 Oct 09, Terry Collister (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Sydney but just back from NZ in July and yams were available at every supermarket-had a nice roast lamb with roast yams and my aussie wife went nuts over them Is there anywhere in NSW that might have them. Like a lot of your correspondents they are the thing I miss the most
06 Oct 09, Di R (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
just put in a vege garden and as an ex Kiwi loves the real yams...please help me to find some ...would love my grandkids to taste them
05 Sep 09, Robyn G (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I got some NZ yams sent from The Lsot Seed in Tas.100gm for $4.50 plus postage.(about 4-6 tubes depend on the size,but I cut the larger ones in half to give me extra)They are growing beautifully,should be ready at Xmas.Will leave the small ones in for next years harvest.All my Kiwi mates can't wait for me to harvest them. I have got them in a container so they won't spread throughout the rest of my garden.Sunny position,watered weekly,grass clippings thrown on now & then.I hope this helps anyone.Also harvest when the clover like staks die off.(like you do for spuds.)
26 Oct 15, sue mangan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello - I just read your post about planting NZ yams - it was dated September and you thought they would be ready by Christmas - Could you tell me when you planted them. I've got some and was wondering when the best time would be to plant them Thanks
28 Aug 09, (Australia - temperate climate)
Did anyone find any yam tubers for sale within WA or can you import them within quarantine restrictions
23 Aug 09, Linda Ye (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Where can I get Yam's seed to grow them? Is there any shops in Sydney?
Showing 161 - 170 of 181 comments

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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