Oca, Longview

Longview is a Cultivariable original variety, selected in 2014, notable for excellent flavor and ability to flower in warmer conditions than most varieties.  This variety is generally of more interest to people who want to produce true seed than people who just want to eat oca, so I don’t offer it every year.

Culinary Traits

Longview is non-acidic variety with a rich, somewhat squash-like flavor.  It lacks the tartness that is characteristic of most oca varieties.  The yellow flesh is very soft when cooked and the tubers will disintegrate with long cooking times.  The yellow flesh color is retained when cooked.  The tubers are small side, but they are very nice roasted whole with a little olive oil.

Agronomic Traits

Longview plants are moderate in height and relatively compact.  The tubers are formed on stolons of intermediate length.  Tuberization photoperiod is about 12 hours, the same as most of the heirloom varieties.  Average yield is 1.1 pounds.  The maximum tuber length is 3.5 inches and the average tuber length is 1 inch.  Average tuber count is 32.  Tubers are evenly distributed from small to large.

Longview is an abundant flowerer with a mid-styled flower morph.  This variety flowered and set seed in the central valley of California, which is a climate where oca flowers are rarely seen.  Because of that, it could serve as a foundation for growers wishing to breed better locally adapted varieties in warmer climates than oca normally tolerates.

True Seeds

True seeds of Longview produce tubers mostly in yellow and orange and a smaller number of whites and reds.  Even numbers of tubers with and without colored eyes.  Mostly yellow or white flesh.