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Post by nancygreenthumb on Jul 7, 2021 12:58:36 GMT
If anyone finds a source, I am very interested...thanjs!
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Post by june on Jul 7, 2021 13:25:15 GMT
Hi Nancy, If by 'Okinawan Purple' you mean the white skinned, purple fleshed ones (sometimes called 'Hawaiian purple') I recently bought some slips from a person in San Diego. I can look up the address for you.
After some failed attempts at sprouting the Okinawan purple, I did some research. I learned that they (Okinawan purple) are not usually grown commercially in the U.S. mainland because they have better flavor and color if grown in volcanic derived soil. The ones we're buying in the grocery stores have been grown in Hawaii and irradiated before import to the U.S.
I have extra purple skin/purple flesh slips, but the Okinawan slips I just bought are too small to share right now....
Additional note about the Okinawan purple--After researching, I believe they are going to take more time than 4 months to mature...At present, I have a bare 4 months before frost.
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Post by june on Jul 7, 2021 13:37:53 GMT
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Post by june on Jul 7, 2021 14:13:33 GMT
In addition, I did one other (possibly foolish) thing for my new Okinawan purple starts. I amended their soil with basalt rock dust. I have read the controversy (both sides) of whether the minerals will be available for the plants in less than a 100 years. ( ) Some gardeners say it works great, scientists say its a waste of money. One possible theory is that if applied in conjunction with 'not quite finished' compost that the microbes can make it more accessible. Rock dust is not expensive so it will be fun to wait and see.
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Post by macmex on Jul 12, 2021 15:32:44 GMT
Nancy I hope you got your slips. In what region of the country do you garden? I have a few now. They were so extremely slow to sprout that I only managed to put 4 slips in the ground by the time I finished planting for the season. Still, the roots made a few more slips afterwards.
I have never grown this one before, but from what I heard it is a tough one to get much of a crop from.
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Post by june on Jul 12, 2021 17:10:04 GMT
LOL, I haven't grown them before either, and from what I've read I don't expect much success. My slips are just getting started and I believe they are going to take more time than the 4 months I have before frost. I need to start earlier next year. Why am I so determined to do this?
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Post by june on Jul 12, 2021 17:16:36 GMT
I do like the taste, but I may have to either continue buying at the International Market or learn to like something else. Last ones I bought (last week) were small and not good quality (out of season I guess) for $3.29/lb.
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Post by macmex on Jul 12, 2021 18:34:02 GMT
I'm trialing High Orange, which has orange flesh, but with somewhat similar flavor to Hawaiian Purple. So far the slips started better than Okinawa. Time will tell.
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Post by june on Jul 12, 2021 18:55:45 GMT
That sounds great. I'd like to try some of those next year!
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Post by macmex on Jul 12, 2021 20:20:57 GMT
If they do well, I'll make sure you get a start.
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Post by nancygreenthumb on Jul 31, 2021 14:15:15 GMT
Hey ladies! Thanks for info...I am in North Central Missouri 5b-6a so I did not order slips. Will try for next year. I did grow some from a store bought sweet potato and they are planted...Hopefully they will produce something 🙏. Really want to try other less know varieties and am anxious to see how yours turns out June!! Keep me posted please.
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Post by macmex on Jan 19, 2022 16:42:03 GMT
Nancy, did you get a decent harvest?
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) Some gardeners say it works great, scientists say its a waste of money. One possible theory is that if applied in conjunction with 'not quite finished' compost that the microbes can make it more accessible. Rock dust is not expensive so it will be fun to wait and see.