When is kumara in season

Serving the Wellington, Kapiti and Horowhenua Districts with the best organic gardening advice. Edible Backyard. Home » How to grow kumara shoots. The shoots are grown on a kumara, and this kumara is so special its called the mother.

Homegrown kumara shoots are easy as pie. Filed Under: Monthly gardening advice , Vegetables Tagged With: how to grow kumara shoots , how to start kumara shoots.

Comments Zoe Drayton says. September 1, at am. Kath Irvine says. September 1, at pm. Melanie says. September 2, at am. Christine Sabin says. Jenny says. September 4, at am. Once the shoots are a good size upwards of 30cm , detach them from the kumara and keep them temporarily in water until you're ready to plant out.

Only four leaves should remain on the shoot. The shoots, which eventually grow tubers, are the stems with nodules on them. The more nodules, the better. If you don't have time to propagate your own plants, kumara seedlings are available to purchase in bundles for a short while in spring.

Before planting your seedlings, aim to build fertile sandy soil with good drainage for best results. When planting, cover most of the stem by burying longways so the stem is more or less horizontal into the prepared raised rows or mounds.

Water as often as a couple of times a day in the early stages to ensure the seedlings take. Kumara vines need plenty of space and, as they grow, gently lift the vine along its length to prevent it setting down more roots. That means the plant puts more energy into producing tubers at its base.

The vines need to be handled carefully, and weeding is best done by hand. If you are starting with an existing garden bed dig in organic matter like Tui Sheep Pellets and Tui Compost to your soil.

Then you can add a layer of Tui Vegetable Mix. Within a week or two, green shoots will appear. Insert most of the cutting into the ground, bending the bottom where the roots are into a 'J' shape - this encourages the roots to travel horizontally along the soil and not bury themselves too deep. Plant out cuttings as soon as the threat of frosts have passed. Feed your plants and they will feed you. Select a fertiliser specially blended for your crop like Tui Vegetable Food.

For your monthly shot of edible backyard inspiration! See you on the 1st! I'm Kath Irvine. I've been growing all the vegetables to feed my family of 6 for 20 good years. Spray free, natural, low input food gardens are my thing. Created to support you on your journey to becoming a food gardener, Kath will teach you how to design and run your own Edible Backyard. A unique opportunity for hands-on, organic learning from a working permaculture garden.

Situated in Ohau, Levin, New Zealand. Serving the Wellington, Kapiti and Horowhenua Districts with the best organic gardening advice. Edible Backyard.