Kūmara Maikio Red
$9.00
SHIPMENT DATE: Expecting mid-November, but the actual timing varies from season to season. Orders are then sent out each week, mostly in the order received, but the actual send out time of any particular order depends on multiple factors including availability of tupu and speed of growth. Please read ordering information below.
Family: CONVOLVULACEAE
Genus & Species: Ipomoea batatas
Limit 3 per customer
Out of stock
Description
Heritage Status: Early Commercial
Bio-Region of Origin: Dargaville/Hokianga
Quantity: Starter pack: 3 Tupu
Description: This is a kūmara that Joseph Land has been growing for well over 20 years, originally from commercial stock (Waina) and especially selecting it for keeping and disease resistant qualities. It is a good productive main crop kumara.
Kūmara Growing Guidelines: Kūmara thrive in light/sandy soils (Māori carried sand long distances to improve heavy soils) with a hard pan about a foot under the surface. Avoid planting them in deeply prepared soil. Typically, they are planted along the tops of ridges, with two ridges per bed. When planting, bend the roots of the tupu under into a J-shape so that the roots face up towards the top under the ridge of soil, facing East or, in some traditions, North. The tops of the kūmara grow quickly to cover the soil.
Traditional additions to the soil include baked ground shell, seaweed, wood ash, and charcoal. Initially, they require watering until they take off, after which they prefer hot dry conditions—though not drought conditions. When the kūmara begins running, they can be lifted to prevent them from rooting away from the original plant (tupu).
Harvest before the frosts arrive, and allow them to mature by leaving them on the ground in the sun and covering them with their tops at night for 2-3 days.
Important information on ordering:
Due to the need to juggle different varieties being ready and their regrowth rate, tupu will be made available to order after each pick (usually Friday).
We will make what we have that week available, however there will be more coming so if you miss out, don’t worry! If you were on the waiting list you can put your name back on for the following pick.
If you are not on the waiting list then choose the varieties you are interested in, open the product and add your e-mail address.
On send out customers will receive an order note with tracking number to let them know their parcel is posted and to provide planting information
