| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Tristan |
yams and sweet potatoesHas 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 
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| Treacodactyl |
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 |
If I can find any 
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| Treacodactyl |
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 |
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. |
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| tahir |
www.vidaverde.co.uk sold slips last year. | ||
| Tristan |
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 |
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. |
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| Treacodactyl |
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. 
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| tahir |
Not usually listed till later in the year. |
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| tahir |
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 |
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 |
Thanks, I'll give that a try | ||
| selfsufficientish |
I posted a bit about growing from shop bought sweet potatoes on my forum http://www.selfsufficientish.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=146 a while back. Incidently yams and sweet potatoes are two different vegetables and sweet pots are often wrongly called Yams. Fascinating 
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| Treacodactyl |
It may be worth getting the tuber now as it took us about 6 months to get any shoots when we tried. | ||
| Bugs |
Tristan, and anyone else interested, just reading this month's TKG which arrived this morning, and one of their plant offers is 10 slips of a new variety, T65, from T&M I suspect, for £9.99 inc p&p. Might be worth a go if you don't have time/space/success with producing your own. Pg47 - don't know if it's in the shops yet but it's usually only a day or two later.
"bred to produce good crops in the UK including Scotland, the tubers have creamy flesh rather than the usual orange and being slightly less sweet will appeal to those who find the orange tubers slightly too sweet". I wonder if they run out will they just send out shoots of Desiree 
Oh look, you can order by phone: C797, on 01473 695225 |
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| Tristan |
Thanks Bugs, I'll look into it. | ||
| Deedee |
Would love to know how you get on growing these as I love sweet potatoes How well do they store when grown yourself does anybody know????
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| cab |
I'm on the phone ordering right now! | ||
| cab |
AND.....
It isn't on their ordering system yet, but they'll phone me back next week. D'OH! |
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| cab |
And now mine are on order!
The chance of having a sweet potato siuted to our climate is too good to pass up. I'll keep you posted on how they go. |