is this a yam? if so, what now?!!

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Birmingham Chris

is this a yam? if so, what now?!!

Post by Birmingham Chris »

So, the first picture is of (I think) a yam - is this right?!! It was given to me, and has been left rolling around in the car for ages before I found it tonight(!). It is the length - almost exactly - of a wine bottle. What should I do now?!

The second picture is (possibly) another yam, also a freebie from my local Indian shop where Caribbean's who buy them don't want the shooting ends, so the guy chops them off and throws them away. it is about 7 inches long. any plans...?!
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derrick

Re: is this a yam? if so, what now?!!

Post by derrick »

Yes its a Yam not Cocoyam or Eddoe this is more of a vine .The top can root if you cut it off but you need very hot temperature to grow
Birmingham Chris

Re: is this a yam? if so, what now?!!

Post by Birmingham Chris »

Cheers Derreck. like that's gonna happen in the Midlands! I may just eat it, then!
derrick

Re: is this a yam? if so, what now?!!

Post by derrick »

I had one root in the summer then i stuck fork in it .I will try again more heat than i can give .They do taste good but not all taste the same some very dry others like chestnut or potatoes
Birmingham Chris

Re: is this a yam? if so, what now?!!

Post by Birmingham Chris »

this has, literally, done this itself by being left in the car - certainly had no TLC and was just a (I now know) yam when I was given it.

There's nothing to this tropical gardening malake, not sure what you're all making such a fuss about!!! :D
Sal73

Re: is this a yam? if so, what now?!!

Post by Sal73 »

that`s a edible dioscorea bulbifera , maybe from Ghana , if hot enough will produce air potatoes and flower as well ,
hard to root , but when will start hard to stop .....overall there is a variety called discorea batatas , that can actually survive in UK .....
derrick

Re: is this a yam? if so, what now?!!

Post by derrick »

My wife gets them all the time some have roots some dont .The one i stuck in the garden rooted into ground very firm .The heat in your car set it off maybe i will fill my van with tropical plants for the look
Birmingham Chris

Re: is this a yam? if so, what now?!!

Post by Birmingham Chris »

Sal73 wrote:that`s a edible dioscorea bulbifera , maybe from Ghana , if hot enough will produce air potatoes and flower as well ,
hard to root , but when will start hard to stop .....overall there is a variety called discorea batatas , that can actually survive in UK .....

air potatoes?

also, all the edoes there are being thrown away as they have loads of shoots / roots / leaves on.

seriously - should I bother asking for a few or is the fun in the getting them to grow?

what are their realistic chances of being worth the bother? I only ask as there are whole threads on here about getting them to shoot, but I wouldn't need to bother with that.
derrick

Re: is this a yam? if so, what now?!!

Post by derrick »

If they got roots shoots should be easy to start in a south facing window but with the weather we have dont no when to put them outside this year
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