Hi FL, I've found a place where I can buy tubers to grow here in Adelaide (the Diggers Club in Vic). They're selling 5 tubers for $10.95; pricey I know, but I just love them. Are 5 tubers enough to get a reasonable crop, or should I get 10? Thanks for any advice.

Yams are a member of the oxalis family I think and they grow very easily at least here in NZ (Wairarapa) My friend grows hers in pots, but I'm not sure what her crops are like. I do understand that once you have them in your garden they are very hard to get rid of as each little yam left behind will grow more. I'd be inclined to get 10, put them in large pots and see what your crop is like, then you can decide whether to put them in the garden, and if you need more you can keep some of your crop, for next year.

Thanks Griz (and Helen :-) ) I did get 10 and gave 5 to a friend who has a semi rural weekend property. He's going to put his in the ground as he has the room and doesn't mind if they keep coming up year after year. I am going to put mine in a grow bag, if it ever warms up here. Well it is Oz so I know in a couple of months I'll be hating the heat, but still very chilly atm - 15d again today with an icy wind. I'll report back after my expected glorious crop lol.

Prophetic words in my last post! Today was 37d and tomorrow expected 38 - 39. This is the second burst of these high temps. The first round was followed by a reasonably long spell (2 1/2 weeks) of low to mid 20s, but alas the yams are not liking the heat at all. The friend with the country property says they are struggling and he's expecting to see them deceased when he goes to the place this weekend. Mine in the grow bag are hanging in there but only just, and are looking spindly. So I'm thinking it's a 'no' to growing yams in Adelaide. They'd probably do ok in cooler parts of Oz. And I was so looking forward to a feast.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2017 04:32AM by Heather F.

Just another update from Adelaide. My yams are actually hanging in there and even didn't do too bad last Saturday when we had a 'glorious' max of 42d. I drag the grow bag under the back patio when the forecast is for very hot, then back out when it cools off, and keep them very well watered. They still look spindly, but the stems have thickened up. So there's hope lol! The friend growing them at his w/e country place says all but one has gone to that big compost heap in the sky.

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