Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have some (read, thousands) of yam bulbils if anybody would like them. I don't have them planted in AP, so I don't know how they would go there. They are planted in the ground and get completely ignored until it is time to save the house from being swallowed by them.

What I have are Dioscorea alata, the Winged / Red / Water Yam (or dozens of other local variations). This species apparently originated in Asia (somewhere). They are edible and are used by many populations.

Usually the tubers are boiled then peeled. I suppose you could soak then roast them too.

One piece of advice is to plant a flat stone under each yam to ensure the yam grows outwards and not ever downwards. About 15 years ago my brother, my mother and I dug up one at the house in town. The tuber was bigger than a 60L garbage bin It was HUGE. It took hours to get it out of the ground.

Once the vine is established it will climb vigorously. The plant dies back over winter and regrows come summer/rain. The vine puts out many bulbils (did I say many?) We have some vines that climb up the back of the house (two storey) and up to the roof. There are also some climbing one of the ironbarks (about 10m high).

I have never dug any of these tubers out here. This picture is of the verandah. The vine is starting to die back now it was bigger.

If you still want some of these (they are VERY hard to get rid of once you have them), you have been warned I have heaps of bulbils if you want them. Please PM me and we'll arrange something.

good eating?

add it to the tithe you're bringing down

WOW that growing from your AP...?

no, that's in the dirt we have here. I'm not game to put one in the AP

which one is it most like?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yam_%28vegetable%29

D. bulbifera ?

no Dioscorea alata
http://www.greenharvest.com.au/Plants/yam_info.html

Just thought of something funny if steve planted one it may take over the backyard [cpugh choke cough cough]

He'd have to clear an area first... and I still don't think he's been able to find his mower

yeh, found it and burned it.............