New Zealand Yam, also called Oca, is a nutritious and versatile root vegetable prized for its colourful, tangy-sweet tubers. Unlike traditional yams, these tubers come in shades of yellow, orange, and red, with a firm, slightly starchy texture and a refreshing citrus-like flavour.

A highly productive and low-maintenance crop, New Zealand Yam is well-suited for cooler climates and performs best in long growing seasons with mild frost tolerance. The tubers develop through late summer and early autumn, becoming sweeter after harvest when left to cure in the sun.

Where Can You Grow Oca?
New Zealand Yam thrives in Zones 6-9, preferring well-drained soil and full sun. It is ideal for raised beds, garden plots, and container growing, as it produces lush trailing foliage that benefits from mulching and hilling.

History and Historical Uses
Native to the Andes Mountains, New Zealand Yam has been cultivated for centuries as a staple crop in regions with cool, moist growing conditions. Traditionally grown alongside potatoes, Oca remains a valuable root vegetable due to its nutrient content, storage ability, and ease of cultivation.

Canadian Zone Information
Zones 8-9: Plant tubers in early spring, allowing a long growing season before autumn harvest.
Zones 6-7: Start tubers indoors in early spring and transplant after the last frost.
Zones 4-5: Grow in containers or raised beds, providing season extension methods such as row covers for late autumn growth.

How to Grow and Harvest Oca

• Planting: Plant tubers 5-8cm (2-3in) deep, spacing 30-45cm (12-18in) apart.
• Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, avoiding waterlogging.
• Hilling: Mound soil around stems as they grow to encourage tuber formation.
• Harvesting:
  • Wait until frost kills the foliage, then dig up tubers.
  • Cure in sunlight for 1-2 weeks to enhance sweetness.

Seed Saving Tips for Future Supply

• Select the Best Tubers: Choose healthy, firm tubers for replanting next season.
• Store Properly: Keep tubers in a cool, dry place over winter.
• Replant: Plant saved tubers in spring after the last frost for the next growing cycle.

Certified Organic By

Islands Organics Producers Association (Cert#1962)