Comments on: Lost Crops of the Incas http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/ Heirloom gardening and the lives of Pat 'n' Steph Sun, 20 May 2012 13:37:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Yacon, Oca, Mashua and Ulluco | Bifurcated Carrots http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-75197 Yacon, Oca, Mashua and Ulluco | Bifurcated Carrots Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:35:11 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-75197 [...] A lot of people are talking about these 4 Andean root vegetables right now.  I’ve mentioned them before is a post on the so-called Lost Crops of the Incas. [...] [...] A lot of people are talking about these 4 Andean root vegetables right now.  I’ve mentioned them before is a post on the so-called Lost Crops of the Incas. [...]

]]> By: Lieven http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-55739 Lieven Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:49:15 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-55739 A lot of Inca crops need a long season to grow proper tubers. We had early frosts around mid October last year, which completely stopped all growth. So: hardly any mashua; only half of the yield for yacon. Remember that the original potato started making tubers only after September: so there's room for improvement & selection here. Let's thank Frank & other lovers of Andean food crops! A lot of Inca crops need a long season to grow proper tubers. We had early frosts around mid October last year, which completely stopped all growth. So: hardly any mashua; only half of the yield for yacon. Remember that the original potato started making tubers only after September: so there’s room for improvement & selection here. Let’s thank Frank & other lovers of Andean food crops!

]]> By: Mauka | Bifurcated Carrots http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-55735 Mauka | Bifurcated Carrots Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:22:41 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-55735 [...] grew this last year and said the tubers really tasted very special.  These are one of the Lost Crops of the Incas plants.  Hopefully they will recover from my neglect, and I’ll get some tubers this [...] [...] grew this last year and said the tubers really tasted very special.  These are one of the Lost Crops of the Incas plants.  Hopefully they will recover from my neglect, and I’ll get some tubers this [...]

]]> By: Phil Bunch http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-50741 Phil Bunch Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:03:20 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-50741 Hi: I'm living in Medellin, Colombia and am interested in obtaining virus free propagation material for Andean tubers such as oca, mashua and ulluco. A local supermarket carries mashua and ulluco on occasion but their source is probably not virus free. If anyone can help me with this Please contact me at phil.bunch@zoho.com . Thanks, Phil Hi: I’m living in Medellin, Colombia and am interested in obtaining virus free propagation material for Andean tubers such as oca, mashua and ulluco. A local supermarket carries mashua and ulluco on occasion but their source is probably not virus free. If anyone can help me with this Please contact me at phil.bunch@zoho.com .

Thanks,
Phil

]]> By: Planting Out in the Heirloom Garden | Bifurcated Carrots http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-36249 Planting Out in the Heirloom Garden | Bifurcated Carrots Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:22:00 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-36249 [...] both from my Belgian friend Frank.  This is a really interesting plant, one of the so called Lost Crops of the Incas.  I did a post with pictures of the tubers here.  This has the potential to become a very [...] [...] both from my Belgian friend Frank.  This is a really interesting plant, one of the so called Lost Crops of the Incas.  I did a post with pictures of the tubers here.  This has the potential to become a very [...]

]]> By: Yacón Tubers and Growing Tips | Bifurcated Carrots http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-29913 Yacón Tubers and Growing Tips | Bifurcated Carrots Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:22:14 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-29913 [...] plants I grew this year from the stem tubers I got from my Friend Frank in Belgium.  Of all of my Lost Crops of the Incas, this may have turned out to be the most [...] [...] plants I grew this year from the stem tubers I got from my Friend Frank in Belgium.  Of all of my Lost Crops of the Incas, this may have turned out to be the most [...]

]]> By: Blogger Seed Network | Bifurcated Carrots http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-20415 Blogger Seed Network | Bifurcated Carrots Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:09:38 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-20415 [...] I do have a little bit of garlic planting stock left, and in a few months I hope to also offer Andean tubers.  Feel free to contact me if you are interested.  I also have some White Alpine Strawberry [...] [...] I do have a little bit of garlic planting stock left, and in a few months I hope to also offer Andean tubers.  Feel free to contact me if you are interested.  I also have some White Alpine Strawberry [...]

]]> By: Help Wanted | Bifurcated Carrots http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-20345 Help Wanted | Bifurcated Carrots Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:44:10 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-20345 [...] not finished yet either!  In a few months my Yacón, Oca, Mashua and so on will be ready, and I will send this out to some people.  I’m also sure I’ll [...] [...] not finished yet either!  In a few months my Yacón, Oca, Mashua and so on will be ready, and I will send this out to some people.  I’m also sure I’ll [...]

]]> By: Garden Pictures June 2008 | Bifurcated Carrots http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-13727 Garden Pictures June 2008 | Bifurcated Carrots Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:45:18 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-13727 [...] it’s growing.  These all seem to be doing well.  You can see a picture of the tubers in my Lost Crops of the Incas post from several weeks ago.  Some of these tubers came from Lieven, and some came from Real [...] [...] it’s growing.  These all seem to be doing well.  You can see a picture of the tubers in my Lost Crops of the Incas post from several weeks ago.  Some of these tubers came from Lieven, and some came from Real [...]

]]> By: Ullucu « In the toad’s garden http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-8699 Ullucu « In the toad’s garden Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:24:52 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-8699 [...] over at Bifucated Carrots writes about ullucu and other crops from the andes. Do pay him a visit. [...] [...] over at Bifucated Carrots writes about ullucu and other crops from the andes. Do pay him a visit. [...]

]]> By: Ullucu « Skrubtudsens have http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-8696 Ullucu « Skrubtudsens have Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:45:10 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-8696 [...] fra Bifucated Carrots skriver også om ullucu og andre afgrøder fra andesbjergene. [...] [...] fra Bifucated Carrots skriver også om ullucu og andre afgrøder fra andesbjergene. [...]

]]> By: Nicole http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-8430 Nicole Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:57:10 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-8430 Thanks, Patrick i just came back here to say I finally identified it, and saw that you had done it already! Great job. Thanks, Patrick
i just came back here to say I finally identified it, and saw that you had done it already! Great job.

]]> By: Frank http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-8287 Frank Fri, 21 Mar 2008 05:52:30 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-8287 I forgot to mention another plant: chinese Yam(dioscorea batatas) (yes, to make things more confusing?...), which is a superb climber, reaching over 3 metres, but I never managed to harvest big tubers, even after 3 years (they are perfectly winterhard), the foliage is magnificent though, autumn colors included. I was in New Zealand a few years ago, I saw the yams, but unfortunately I couldn't take them (backpacking). I did search for addresses to obtain some afterwards, but I never did find a good address. People also told me kumara is still mainly grown in the surroundings of Dargaville (which has a splendid forest nearby:Waipoua forest with the amazing Tane Mahuta tree), I believe this part of the world is one of the best for growing crops, I saw bananas, cherimoyas, guava,feijoa sellowiana,grapefruits,avocados,psidium cattleyanum,...I did wonder however why there were so little back-yard gardens with vegetables, some folks told me it was because of the cheap prices of vegetables in the shop, but I have some difficulties accepting this, maybe I was just in the wrong place.. I forgot to mention another plant: chinese Yam(dioscorea batatas) (yes, to make things more confusing?…), which is a superb climber, reaching over 3 metres, but I never managed to harvest big tubers, even after 3 years (they are perfectly winterhard), the foliage is magnificent though, autumn colors included.
I was in New Zealand a few years ago, I saw the yams, but unfortunately I couldn’t take them (backpacking). I did search for addresses to obtain some afterwards, but I never did find a good address.
People also told me kumara is still mainly grown in the surroundings of Dargaville (which has a splendid forest nearby:Waipoua forest with the amazing Tane Mahuta tree),
I believe this part of the world is one of the best for growing crops, I saw bananas, cherimoyas, guava,feijoa sellowiana,grapefruits,avocados,psidium cattleyanum,…I did wonder however why there were so little back-yard gardens with vegetables, some folks told me it was because of the cheap prices of vegetables in the shop, but I have some difficulties accepting this, maybe I was just in the wrong place..

]]> By: Christopher http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-8283 Christopher Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:53:20 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-8283 Hi Frank, Patrick Well, when I was growing up, we had yams looking very much like your orcas seen in the second picture regularly for Sunday roasts. The yams became soft and squishy, tasting sweetish, floury and a faint woodsy flavour. Mmmmm I must roast some someday soon! The kinds of yams we get here are both the long thin tuber and the short stubby one in your picture, although the more common variety is the short stubby one. I've not seen the other kinds in the first photo. Taro is called taro here in NZ Aotearoa. I've never been to the Islands, but I suspect they would call them yams up there. Kumara on the other hand are another kettle of fish. A guilty treat, indulged too often, is kumara chips from the local burger place. Kumara are sweet potato. When I was a wee lad, you could only get the purple kind - grown in Dargaville - knobly and gnarly and delicious oh so delicious roasted. Now you can get orange kumara and also a pale gold one. The purple kind is still the best kind and most popular. Hi Frank, Patrick

Well, when I was growing up, we had yams looking very much like your orcas seen in the second picture regularly for Sunday roasts. The yams became soft and squishy, tasting sweetish, floury and a faint woodsy flavour. Mmmmm I must roast some someday soon! The kinds of yams we get here are both the long thin tuber and the short stubby one in your picture, although the more common variety is the short stubby one.

I’ve not seen the other kinds in the first photo.

Taro is called taro here in NZ Aotearoa. I’ve never been to the Islands, but I suspect they would call them yams up there.

Kumara on the other hand are another kettle of fish. A guilty treat, indulged too often, is kumara chips from the local burger place. Kumara are sweet potato. When I was a wee lad, you could only get the purple kind – grown in Dargaville – knobly and gnarly and delicious oh so delicious roasted. Now you can get orange kumara and also a pale gold one. The purple kind is still the best kind and most popular.

]]> By: Frank http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/03/lost-crops-of-the-incas/comment-page-1/#comment-8100 Frank Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:53:53 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=304#comment-8100 Patrick, Christopher, In New Zealand ocas (oxalis tuberosa)are indeed called 'New Zealand yams' or just yams. It is however a bit confusing, yam (or:coco-yam) is an other name for taro (colocasia esculenta), which is grown a lot in Polynesian Islands. Sweet potatoes (ipomoa batatas) are sometimes (or mostly?) called kumara in New Zealand. The ocas in New Zealand seem to have been selected on longer and thinner tubers,similar to the one on the right in the lower picture. Patrick, Christopher,
In New Zealand ocas (oxalis tuberosa)are indeed called ‘New Zealand yams’ or just yams. It is however a bit confusing, yam (or:coco-yam) is an other name for taro (colocasia esculenta), which is grown a lot in Polynesian Islands. Sweet potatoes (ipomoa batatas) are sometimes (or mostly?) called kumara in New Zealand. The ocas in New Zealand seem to have been selected on longer and thinner tubers,similar to the one on the right in the lower picture.

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