vegetable
Ube , botanically known as Dioscorea alata , is a very democratic yam throughout Asia . We ’ll talk about grow this wing yam at home !
Contents
I do n’t consider we could ever know without tuber . Whether it ’s the many cookery fluctuation of the potato , the abundant nutrients of the sweet white potato vine , or the rich mouthful of the yam , these food are pop for good reason . Today , we ’d care to acquaint you to one of the world ’s favorite , though less hear of , tubers : Dioscorea alata , known as ube or winged yams .
The name makes me imagine a flying Thanksgiving dish , but winged yam plant are actually used the most in afters . Their sweet-scented , nutlike flavor is standardised to asweet potatoortaro . However , these Tuber have a smoother texture that makes them perfect for finespun delicacy .
Perhaps the most famed trait of fly yams is their coloring . Beneath the grubby exterior is surprisingly vibrant regal flesh . You may hear this food go by ‘ purple yam plant life ’ because of its chromaticity . The yams keep their color when cooked , so be inclined to liven up your plate !
Of course , we ’re not just here for the food . You ’ll find that wing yam plant plants make a beautiful addition to the garden . Their climb vines support charming , meat - determine parting . And , if you ’re lucky , you may get some clustering of yellow - white flowers . So what are you wait for ? have ’s learn all about get purple yam !
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Quick Care Guide
All About Ube
Before we get started , let ’s clear up the yam plant / sweet murphy confusion . Though they look and sample alike , these are n’t the same flora . Sweet Solanum tuberosum is actually part of the morning glory folk while winged yam is part of the “ straight yam family ” .
Dioscorea alatais grown all around the world , so it has many different names . The common name fly yam come up from the stem ’s appearance . It ’s squarely - shaped with savourless ridges , or “ wing ” , run along the corners . You may also hear it called “ piddle yam plant ” , which is bear on to the tuber ’s high-pitched water depicted object . These plants are also concern to as “ ube ” or “ ubi ” in Phillippine cuisine .
fly yam is such an old works that its precise line is unknown , though it ’s believed to have come from Southeast Asia . Called a cultigen , this specie has only been get it on in cultivation and may even be a loan-blend . It came to North America in the 1500s , when it was introduced to Florida by the Spanish and Portugeuse .
Today , ube root crop stay a staple food in Southeast Asia , West Africa , and South America – peculiarly the Philippines . There , it ’s used in the main in desserts from bar to frappe ointment to frappes . Despite its popularity as a dessert - peach , some countries have substitute winged yam with the sweet white potato and other crops .
In the US , winged yam plant has gotten a niggling out of deal . They ’re ruthless flora that will take over any blank they witness . Winged yam has escaped refinement in the southern United States , the Virgin Islands , and Puerto Rico . It ’s so destructive that the Florida exotic pest plant life council has register it as a fully - feather encroaching metal money . As gardeners of this plant , we ’re responsible for keeping it control .
It ’s not exactly high - maintenance , but mature and turn back wing yam plant is no small feat . The vines have been known to make 20 - 30 metrical unit tall , often climbing nearby tree diagram . They grow so quickly that some gardeners have reported 8 inches of growth in a single day .
The vine are n’t the only affair meddlesome growing . Each plant sports one tube tuber . If left unharvested , the tubers will develop and grow until they ’ve hit 8 foot recollective . Sometimes , the vines will grow modest , ethereal tubers above ground ( standardized to the air potato ) . These bulbil are meant to educate into new plant and are excellent for extension .
It may be tight - grow , but these plants are n’t invincible . They only last through the wintertime in zones 9 - 11 . In inhuman locations , they must be get as an annual .
Come harvest clock time , it ’s vital that you check that you ready the Tuber completely before eating as they ’re toxic when raw!If any ube taste bitter , do not eat it . Cooking should show this safe , but the acerbity is a word of advice sign .
Winged Yam Varieties
In most places , ube is ube . In others though , specially the Philippines , there are many dissimilar variety of this metal money . Kinampay is consider the original winged yam species . It ’s nickname “ Queen of Philippine Yams ” and has 4 further varietes : tamisan , binanag , kabus - ok , and binato .
With these yam , different varieties often signify unlike gloss . While most , such as Zambales , perplex to the classic purpleness , others have depart spectre of white . The Basco variety , for example , is blank with a lavender speck . The Leyte variety ranges from a adorable cream color to knock .
Planting
Likepotatoes , winged yam is usually grown by planting chunks of the genus Tuber . you could grease one’s palms the starter spell online or acquire some from a friend . Small tubers can be planted whole , while declamatory ones can be cut into several pieces . Let the slice dry out out before planting or germinate them .
In the tropical zone , Dioscorea alata can be embed any time of year , but ordinarily just after the rainy time of year . Here in the US , that ’s tantamount to spring . Do n’t plant your yams in the primer coat until all chance of frost have passed .
It takes anywhere from 3 - 12 week for the tubers to stock . you’re able to get ahead of schedule by sprouting the yam plant piece of music before plant . Just stick them in a bucket of stain and keep them moist . Once they sprout , you could transplant them into their permanent home .
Before planting in the ground , till the soil well . The growing tubers will apprise the extra room that loose soil pay it . Plant the tuber 4 - 5 inch deep and 2 feet apart . It ’s commend to add organic mulch on top to hold in water and prevent weeds .
Dioscorea alata can be grown in containers , but you ’ll have to watch the size . Use at least a 5 - gallon container and harvest the yam before it outgrow its home .
Care
Winged yam coinage are pretty harsh - and - spill plants . However , you ’ll get the in effect results by following their care preferences . Here ’s what we recommend .
Sun and Temperature
Give your winged yam full to fond sun . Since it ’s from the tropics , it likes to be nice and warm ; at least 70 ° F is preferable . If you live in zone 9 - 11 , you’re able to originate these plants as perennials . Otherwise , the weather will only allow this yam to spring up seasonally . freeze temperatures can cause harm to the roots and green growth .
Water and Humidity
Dioscorea is drouth - tolerant , but it flourish best with ordered moisture . Water it whenever the top few inches of the soil begins to dry out . trickle lines orsoaker hoseswork really well for this plant life . When the plants depart to fail at the oddment of the grow time of year , stop irrigate so they wo n’t rot .
Humidity is n’t a huge agent here , so long as you keep the soil moist during the summertime .
Soil
Dioscorea alata metal money will develop in a variety of soils . For optimum increase , though , the soil should have all the good features . It should be loamy , fertile , full of organic fabric , and well - draining . It ’s also of import that the filth is loose so the tubers can develop easily . A neutral or slimly acidicpHwill be fine .
Fertilizing
Dioscorea alata is n’t too picky about fertilizer as long as it has nutrients . Stock the filth with organic matter before imbed and expend mulch . If you ’d wish to give the plant life and aerial tubers an excess boost , apply a balanced fertilizer a couple of clock time during the growing season .
Pruning and Training
As a climber , this vine will much appreciate a treillage to grow on . Plus , having a support will boost your works ’s growth . When it ’s climbing , the vines will disperse out and expose more foliage surface for photosynthesis .
Use a treillage , fence , or even a boniface tree . If the vines do n’t take to the accompaniment on their own , gently wind them around it . If necessary , attach them loosely with a scrap of fabric . If your plant outgrow its sustenance , dress back the vines with sharp , clean clippers .
If your Dioscorea alata grows aery tubers that you do n’t plan to propagate , curtail them off before they age . This potentially invading works spreads quick through aerial tubers and we want to keep it under control . Destroy the aerial tubers before throwing them out so they do n’t take ancestor in your compost bin .
Propagation
It ’s rare for Dioscorea to blossom in much of the United States , so germ is n’t a common extension method . Instead , gardener bank on aerial genus Tuber or origin propagation . Start off by trend the root or aerial genus Tuber from the relief of the flora . Unless you have a very small genus Tuber , slue it into several chunks . Each one is a possible Dioscorea alata .
After they ’re cut , you have to let the slice dry out for a couple day . Otherwise , the new wounds could quickly rot when institute . To speed up the process , souse the cut end in wood ash .
Once ironical , bury the pieces in a bucket of dirt and keep it moist . Once they sprout , you’re able to move the baby yams to their permanent home .
Harvesting and Storing
Get your dessert recipes quick , because it ’s harvesting fourth dimension ! Each plant is one - and - done , so the process should n’t take too long .
Harvesting
When the tubers are matured , the foliation will yellow and pop off . This is your cue to grab the spadeful and start harvest home . This usually happens from November to January . If the Robert Frost is going to hit your area before than that , you ’ll want to harvest ahead of time .
cautiously deplume up the entire plant , using a shovelful if necessary . Remove the tubers from the vine and brush off the shit . It ’s that round-eyed !
Ensure that you take out all tubers , aerial tubers , and vines from the ground so nothing is leave to its own machine . Otherwise , you may end up with a particularly invasive plant life on your hands .
If you inhabit in USDA zones 9 - 11 , you have the pick of letting your Dioscorea alata spring up for 2 or more yr . Just leave it in the earth over winter . It will likely shed its leafage and go dormant for at least a few months . The follow harvest season , you should have a massive issue .
Storing
you could keep your freshly - harvested Dioscorea on the kitchen counter or pantry . It just need to remain dry or it may sprout . think of that the Tuber are toxic when raw , so you have to cook them altogether . It ’s also advisable to wear out gloves while groom them .
falsify the Dioscorea alata winged yam as you would a murphy . Or , if you have a cherubic tooth , head over to Pinterest for some Dioscorea afters recipe like ube cupcakes . If you have a huge tuber , you may remove a piece at a time , and the remaining wing yam will usually be o.k. .
For long - term storage , keep your yams in a dry property . Periodically moderate for and remove any rotted pieces .
Troubleshooting
You ’re in circumstances , as there are n’t many problems to deal with when it comes to Dioscorea alata . We ’ll go over a few things though , just in casing .
Growing Problems
Greening of tubershappens when they ’re exposed to sunshine while growing . It ’s a upshot of the Tuber producing chlorophyll , the same chemical substance creditworthy for photosynthesis in leaves . Depending on the amount , chlorophyll can be grave when eaten by human being . Stay on the safe side and discard any light-green portions .
Prevent this from happening by keeping the tubers covered at all times while they ’re grow . If at any metre the tubers poke out of the soil , quick make a mound over it .
Pests
Root - knot nematodeshit this species properly where it injure : the tuber . They ’ll disrupt their increment and cause knots and deformities . Above - ground , you ’ll notice stunted growth and yellow leaves . foreclose these nematodes by till the grease well before and after each harvest . You should also use crop rotation with nematode - resistive industrial plant . For exist plague , try out a nematicide . Geraniol and quillaja saponaria base discussion are a good constitutive option . Alternately , add beneficial roundworm to the soil as they will hunt down down and kill the solution - knot nematodes .
Scale insects , particularly white scales andmealybugs , are common pest that feed on Dioscorea alata juice . They secrete honeydew melon that attracts ants , which is another plague to eliminate . The well glide slope is to prevent these insects in the first place . Keeping the filth clear of debris and the works dry are the secure measures . you could also rationalize infest vines or off the pest one by one with a tap of rubbing alcoholic beverage . For large infestations , try using an insecticidal grievous bodily harm , or good predators such as lacewings or ladybird beetle . Neem oil color or horticultural oil can belt down off their eggs .
Diseases
Anthracnoseis a fungal disease that will cause leaf spots on your beautiful Dioscorea alata species . In time , it can yellow and wither the folio , finally killing them . This disease unremarkably is n’t fatal to the whole plant , but can in spades affect its growth . Try a dose of neem vegetable oil , copper fungicide , or sulphur dust fungicide to treat this fungus . Prevent anthracnose by celebrate your plant clean and dry .
Themosaic viruscreates a “ mosaic ” of color on the leaves , usually in shades of lily-livered and green . It sound pretty , but the food colouring is make by hurt to the veins , which are vital to the plant ’s health . This disease will stunt Dioscorea alata ’s ontogeny and even pretend the amylum mental object of the tuber .
This computer virus is typically transmitted by Dioscorea alata cuttings , so ensure that you ’re only planting disease - free yams . insect can also transport the disease , so build up yourself against any pest problems . There ’s no remedy for this disease , so bar is your only arm .
Frequently Asked Questions
Q : Is purple yam plant poisonous ?
A : It can be , but only if eaten raw . keep off this by fudge your Dioscorea alata completely before take .
Q : Are purple yam leaves edible ?
A : Dioscorea is often bedevil with fresh Solanum tuberosum , which does have eatable leaf . We do not urge you wipe out the leave-taking of Dioscorea alata . While some yams do have leaf that are safe once falsify , this one is still a little too risky .
Q : Is taro and yam the same thing ?
A : No , but they ’re close ! The Tuber attend and taste similar , but eddo species lacks the bland texture and vibrant colouring of Dioscorea alata winged yam . The plants look completely unrelated , pay that dasheen is bushy with big leaves while winged yam is a vine .
