[Madame Cholet]

just ordered some oca from www.realseeds.co.uk just been lifted

[LilacSandy]

What's that please?  is it good?

[Trillium]

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/unusualtubers.html

Just had a look. While it might be a valuable food crop, it certainly looks VERY odd, like coloured slugs.

[LilacSandy]

You make it sound very appitising Trillium 

[AlaninCarlisle]

The slimy texture of the stuff I grew put me off

[sunshineband]

I have grown oca for a few years now and they are far from slimy imho

They are crisp and sweet when raw with a light lemony tang, and rather like potato when cooked.

Virtually foolproof to grow: have got red ones and yellowy cream ones as well as white.

Started them off in March and will start to harvest soon, although strangely they seem to keep increasing in size through the winter even though the foligae is cut down by the frost.

Pretty leaves and little yellwo flowers too 

(South American vegetable)

[Madame Cholet]

I'm in for the weird and wonderful especially if its perennial sounds good like a lemony potato Ill give it a go

reputedly one of the lost crops of the Incas the plants are quite attractive as a edging too

[JaK]

I have ordered the mixed tubers. I had not heard of them before but I have a feeling the kids will like the look of them.

[sunshineband]

I'm in for the weird and wonderful especially if its perennial sounds good like a lemony potato Ill give it a go

reputedly one of the lost crops of the Incas the plants are quite attractive as a edging too

The plants grow about 12 ins tall but do have the odd longer shoot that can flop about a bit, so they need a space of about a sq ft each tuber really


Forgot to tell you .... one of the old plot holders told me he thought I was very daring 'cos I grow 'fancy stuff'

You've been warned --- Oca count as fancy stuff 

[AlaninCarlisle]

Apologies, my reference to "slimy" referred to Okra. I've never ever tasted Oca

[Madame Cholet]

I'm definateley in the fancy stuff brigade quinoa, amaranth, pig nuts, rapini, all new adventures this year if it doesn't move I'll try it.

[Gandan57]

At at least £92 per kilo, just a tad more expensive than seed potatoes!

[Madame Cholet]

yeh but you only buy them once like artichokes which increase 5 fold I started with 10 tubers now i've lost count

[WirralWally]

Oca, pronounced like Ocka (as in soccer)
Luvvly jubbly.
Treat like new potatoes.
Wash & go.

I was told that they were like Jerusalem atichokes.
Tosh!!

Jerusalem artichokes create wind and bloating effects (in most normal people).
Oca just have a beautiful 'new potato' like taste without any side effects.

Oca is the new 'must-have' crop for any plot holder.

[Auntiemogs]

Mixed tubers for me too, thank you Rachel, will give them a try!