Mashua, Blanca

Mashua information and growing instructions

Phytosanitary information

This variety is offered every year, barring crop failure.

Blanca is an heirloom variety, reportedly from Colombia.  It is also sold under the names Pilifera (which is technically the name of a botanical variety), Sidney, and Yurac-anu.  This is the most widespread mashua variety in the United States.

Culinary Traits

Blanca is both slightly sweet and slightly cabbagey.  The cooked flesh is moderately firm and remains white.

Agronomic Traits

Early to emerge in the spring. Plants are tall on trellis, reaching ten feet or more.  This variety has a high yield, with plants on trellis producing 10 pounds or more. Tubers form early but don’t bulk up rapidly, so it needs a mild fall to reach its maximum. This is a fall flowering variety.  All sources of this variety that I have tested have been positive for a Potyvirus.

What you will receive

Tubers

You will receive the stated number of tubers, packaged in plastic bag with damp peat.

Seeds

Seeds are open pollinated. Because mashua 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.