Yam is a tropical climber that forms unusual tuberous rhizomes. More than 600 species belonging to the genus Dioscorea are known. How to grow them, which you can have at home and which you can plant in your garden? Here are the two most interesting species - the turtle plant, i.e. the elephant yam (Dioscorea elephantipes), and the climbing potato, i.e. the Chinese yam (Dioscorea batatus).
The turtle plant, i.e. the elephant yam - Dioscorea elephantipes
Pochrzynis most often grown in West Africa, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.The huge popularity of yam in these countries was due to the possibility of using it for food purposes. The edible parts of these plants are large underground tubers, sometimes referred to as Hottentot bread. The weight of one tuber can reach several dozen kilograms. Tubers, like our potatoes, contain a lot of starch and can only be eaten after boiling or baking.
For us, however, the main attraction is the amazing appearance of the yam tubers, which protrude significantly above the ground. The tubers are spherical or club-shaped, repeatedly divided by constrictions. Cracked rind has a brown color and a cork structure. In some species, such as the elephant yamDioscorea elephantipesit resembles the shell of a turtle.
The shoots sprouting from the tubers are covered with green foliage and can climb on various supports up to several meters high. The unusual appearance of the tubers and the possibility of using the plant as a creeper make it worth getting interested in the cultivation of yam.
Below I will present two species in more detail - the above-mentioned, extremely attractiveelephant yam , which in our climate can only be grown astropical climberin a pot, andChinese yam(Dioscorea batatus), which can also be grown in the garden, as long as it is provided with a sufficiently warm position and covered for the winter.
Elephant yam - Dioscorea elephantipes
Elephant yamis an extremely attractive potted plant. The exotic-looking tubers that resemble the shell of a turtle, are the reason why the plant is also often referred to asturtle plantor elephant foot. The tubers have a thick cork cover, deeply cracked in geometric patterns with distinct rings of white, gray and brown. Tubers grown in the wild can be up to 1 meter in diameter. In pot cultivation, however, they do not exceed 40 cm in diameter.But even such a tuber looks impressive!
From the tuber, thistropical climberproduces slender shoots that can climb up to 2 meters on supports. Stems are covered with single leaves on short petioles, arranged alternately. The leaves are small (up to 2.5 cm long). Under favorable conditions,Dioscorea elephantipesmay also become covered with tiny, pale yellow flowers.
Surface planting - soil and pot
Home-grownyamshould be grown in a flat pot with a fairly large diameter, so that there is still some free substrate around the tuber. The soil should be fertile, very well drained. It is best to fill the pot with a mixture of peat substrate, crushed bark, perlite and sand (all ingredients in equal parts). The soil around the tuber can be mulched with fine gravel.
Cultivation position
Place the pot in a warm and sunny place. Even whenthe turtle plantgoes into a dormant period (which does not always occur in winter, because yam vegetation is very irregular), the temperature should not fall below 16 ° C.
Watering
We irrigate moderately. The plant is drought-resistant (it can withstand it much better than flooding). A saucer is needed under the pot, on which we will provide water. The yam must not be watered from the top.
Fertilization and pruning
SpeciesDioscorea elephantipesis very sensitive to excessive salinity, therefore any possible fertilization is carried out rarely and in very small doses. Young plants should not be trimmed as they tolerate it very badly. You can afford to gently trim only the older, already overgrown specimen.
Note! Yam does not acclimatize badly in new places, so try to grow the plant in the same place all the time.
Propagation of yam
It is extremely difficult to propagateelephant yamfrom cuttings. It does not set seeds at home either. Therefore, the only way to start growing is to sow purchased seeds.
Chinese yam - edible tuber, the so-called chinese potato
Chinese yam - Dioscorea batatus
Yam can also be grown in the garden. If you want to try it, chooseChinese yam(Dioscorea batatus), which is sometimes also sold as a climbing potato. The price of a seedling is a dozen or so zlotys.
Thisyamcomes (as the name suggests) from China and Japan. Its shoots twine around the supports, reaching 2 or even more than 3 meters, and die in autumn. On the plot, you can plant it under a fence or next to a grate or pergola, which he will climb every year. The plant will bring you a lot of joy when it blooms from June to August. Tiny flowers give off a pleasant cinnamon scent.
The tubersof Chinese yamare not the only edible parts of this plant. In the fall, fruit should also appear in the leaves - small brown tubers with a nutty flavor. They are not only edible, but reportedly and tasty.
Chinese yamcan be grown in warmer regions of Poland. Requires a warm, sunny and wind-sheltered position. The soil should be humus and very well drained. It is advisable to keep the soil moist (but not wet).
The plant is not hardy enough. Its above-ground parts will collapse in the fall. Then cover the tubers and a large strip of soil around them with a very thick layer of composted bark or sawdust. Under such cover, the tuber will survive until spring, whenChinese yamsprouts and green leaves again.
