| Author | Content |
Floridian
Lutz, FL
(Zone 9b)
 November 12, 2002
06:15 PM Post #408035
| Air Potato
Dioscorea bulbifera
The 'potatoes' on the vine
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/32235/
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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CoyoteSpirit
Citrus Heights, CA
(Zone 9b)
November 12, 2002
06:19 PM Post #408041
| TeeHee...for some reason that plant tickles my funny bone... |
Floridian
Lutz, FL
(Zone 9b)
November 12, 2002
07:15 PM Post #408092
| LOL CS, thank your lucky stars you don't have them!! |
Weezingreens
Seward, AK
(Zone 3b)
November 12, 2002
07:19 PM Post #408095
| Now that is just fascinating, Floridian! It looks like one of those things someone would import into their yard as a converstation piece, then start boarding up the windows to keep it out. |
Floridian
Lutz, FL
(Zone 9b)
November 12, 2002
07:29 PM Post #408109
| That's about it Weez, we pull seedlings by the dozen in the spring only to turn around and find them climbing trees and fences. It's amazing! Impossible to keep up with AND they drop fruit all season!
This message was edited Tuesday, Nov 12th 7:30 PM |
Weezingreens
Seward, AK
(Zone 3b)
November 12, 2002
07:31 PM Post #408111
| Does the fruit rot or dry up? |
Brugie
Chariton, IA
(Zone 5b)
November 12, 2002
07:36 PM Post #408120
| I pick my fruit or potatoes right before frost and just lay them on a shelf until spring. They are hard as rocks and when the decide to grow, look out. I started some in the greenhouse in pots this year and had to keep cutting them back. They were taking over and very fast. |
Floridian
Lutz, FL
(Zone 9b)
November 12, 2002
07:41 PM Post #408124
| I've never seen a rotten or dried up tuber. We carry bags around and collect them or I toss them into the driveway and drive over them. If I toss them in with cuttings pretty soon I have vines growing...they really are amazing. The vine in the picture is growing up into my saw palmettos. I've cleared them several times this year. |
Weezingreens
Seward, AK
(Zone 3b)
November 12, 2002
07:42 PM Post #408125
| I suppose they're not a problem for you in your climate, are they Brugie? |
Floridian
Lutz, FL
(Zone 9b)
November 12, 2002
07:48 PM Post #408129
| Sounds like you have to tame them Brugie. Lots of people up north grow them with no problems. Lucky!! LOL |
Brugie
Chariton, IA
(Zone 5b)
November 12, 2002
08:05 PM Post #408141
| No problem here. I don't have a lot of tubers on my vines, but enough to give to friends and keep for myself for the next season. For some reason, my friends never get potatoes. My aunt got a few this year, but mine were by far the biggest. Would hate to have to go without this vine. The size and shape of the leaves are worth it. It would never get out of control where the ground freezes like ours does. I dug up a plant one time. What is under them is amazing too. Strangest looking roots you would ever see. |
Weezingreens
Seward, AK
(Zone 3b)
November 12, 2002
08:53 PM Post #408184
| Next time you dig one up, Brugie, take a picture of the roots and post it on the PDB. I'd be interested in seeing that. |
Brugie
Chariton, IA
(Zone 5b)
November 12, 2002
09:00 PM Post #408194
| Will have to be next fall. Everything is gone from here now. Hope I can remember that far down the line. :-) |
Weezingreens
Seward, AK
(Zone 3b)
November 12, 2002
09:05 PM Post #408198
| Maybe Floridian can get a pic the next time she has to beat back the invading forces! |
weeds
Panhandle, FL
(Zone 8a)
November 12, 2002
09:17 PM Post #408208
| Gosh those look familiar. Some of mine get so big I could bowl with them! |
windsurffer
(Zone 5a)
November 12, 2002
10:17 PM Post #408286
| Flo that is one unusual looking plant but I don't think I would want it after reading how invasive it is.With my luck even though it gets down below zero here it would still take over my small garden.
I am having enough trouble trying to get rid of the Maypop Passion flower vine. |
Brugie
Chariton, IA
(Zone 5b)
November 12, 2002
10:29 PM Post #408299
| Wind, mine have stayed on my trellis every year with no problem. When a runner starts to flop over toward the ground, I just toss it over the top of the trellis and off it goes. Probably didn't have to do that more than a half dozen times this summer. You really would like this vine. It is a challenge to get potatoes on them in our climate. |
windsurffer
(Zone 5a)
November 12, 2002
10:44 PM Post #408318
| Brugie I don't think I want to try...too chicken lol. |
Brugie
Chariton, IA
(Zone 5b)
November 12, 2002
11:16 PM Post #408370
| They really do not go that crazy here. As long as I can get potatoes on mine for the next year, I'll grow them. I tried to dig the roots and grow them from those tubers, but that didn't work. Had to ask for potatoes for this year, but now I'm set for next year with some really nice potatoes. I've heard they are edible, but I don't think I want to even try. The tubers underground would feed a family. I'm off to another forum now. Have a good one. |
windsurffer
(Zone 5a)
November 12, 2002
11:21 PM Post #408381
| Good luck with them and I will be looking forward to seeing some of theose big potatoes. |
ButterflyGardnr
Orlando, FL
(Zone 9b)
November 19, 2002
12:34 PM Post #413220
| CS: trust me when I tell you that it doesn't tickle when one of those potatoes falls on your head!
Brugie: Have you tried fertilizing them to get bigger potatoes? Maybe the soil is too fertile up there in IA. Perhaps adding sand would be more effective. We've got plenty down here! |
