Oca, New Zealand Heirloom #3

New Zealand Heirloom #3 is an heirloom variety from New Zealand.  It probably has another name, but that has been lost.

Culinary Traits

New Zealand Heirloom #3 is neither tart or sweet, tasting much like a potato.  It holds its yellow color through cooking.

Agronomic Traits

New Zealand Heirloom #3 plants are very large, with thick stems.  Plants may be upright or sprawling.  Tubers are produced on stolons of intermediate length and are generally uniform.  Average yield is 1.8 pounds.  Maximum tuber length is 5.3 inches and average tuber length is 2.2 inches.  Average tuber count is 31.  There are roughly equal numbers of large and small tubers with this variety.

New Zealand Heirloom #3 is a poor flowerer with a short styled flower, flowering here in July and August.

What you will receive

Tubers

You will receive the stated number of tubers, packaged in a wax envelope. We grade tubers by passing them through a grate. Small tubers are those that won’t fall through a 1/3″ grate, but that will fall through a 1 inch grate. Medium/large tubers are those that will not fall through a 1 inch grate.

Seeds

Seeds are open pollinated. Because oca is a polyploid hybrid, the seeds will not grow true to type. They are suitable for use in breeding or conservation efforts and could be used to select varieties similar to the parent type.