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

20 Jun 10, Dave (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have just harvested a crop of yellow/orange yams.Can any-one tell me how best to keep the small one's that we use as seed for the next crop as we live in Tasmania and we are coming into the cold months and we get temps in the minus's. Thanks Dave
03 Apr 11, Garth (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Dave, I am an ex NZer living in tasmania and haven,t had a good feed of yams in ages.Saw your comment and wondered if you might have some extra yams i could have or know where i could get access to some in tasmania so i could harvest my own Thanks Garth.
26 Jul 13, Fiona (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi just purchased a kilo of yummy yams from the Aproneers in Hobart. I hope I can restrain myself from eating them all and perhaps plant a couple. :-). So happy to see them in a shop! Having a kiwi week just purchased a box of feijoas and now yams- all I need now is some Hokey Pokey ice cream....
12 Jul 13, Paula (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Does anyone know where I can get yam/Oca tubers to grow in tasmania
14 Apr 10, john studte (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi John in Tassie.Change of email address for NZ yams.Available soon. [email protected]
23 May 10, stuart cooney (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
are these yams the type that look a bit like the ginger tuber and have a bushy top similar to a clover leaf.i used to grow them in nz in the south island and they croped very well there.i am interested in trying to grow them in the south east qld erea but have not been able to aquire any seed tubers can you please help me .i am able to grow the yellow flesh kumera here so they might well go ok.
25 May 10, john studte (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Stuart.Yes they are the right ones and they grow well.Please contact me on [email protected]
25 Feb 10, John Studte (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Cathy.Please contact me at [email protected] and i will organise that for you.John
02 Jun 11, leonie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi John I am trying to get hold of nz yellow flesh kumera. Do you have any to sell?
25 Feb 10, Cathy Peck (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I contacted this place cornucopiaseeds and they said they will have yam tubers June/July
Showing 131 - 140 of 181 comments

I haven’t seen yams in garden store can I grow the ones from the supermarket? We live just out of Maungaturoto is this a suitable climate soil is excellent. Many thanks

- Angie

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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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