Oca
Oxalis tuberosa
Also listed as Acetosella tuberosa, Xanthoxalis tuberosa
Also known as New Zealand Yam
Climate Match for your location
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Oca is a South American tuber crop grown for its edible, potato-like underground tubers that develop in cool, short-day seasons. The plant produces ornamental clover-like foliage and small yellow or pink flowers, making it both productive and decorative in permaculture gardens.
Why grow it
Oca offers higher yield per unit area than many potato varieties in cool climates and requires less pest and disease management in many regions. Unlike potatoes, oca's tubers store longer without sprouting when kept cool and dark. The plant's dual ornamental and productive character makes it useful for permaculture systems where aesthetic and functional roles overlap.
Watch out for
Oca requires consistent cool temperatures and short day length to initiate tuber formation, making it unsuitable for warm-season or long-day regions without specific cultivar selection. Tubers need 5-7 months of growth to reach harvestable size, so timing of planting relative to your first frost is critical for productive crops.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Oxalidaceae
Native Range
Andes Mountains, South America
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Oca is a South American tuber crop grown for its edible, potato-like underground tubers that develop in cool, short-day seasons. The plant produces ornamental clover-like foliage and small yellow or pink flowers, making it both productive and decorative in permaculture gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Oca grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Oca offers higher yield per unit area than many potato varieties in cool climates and requires less pest and disease management in many regions. Unlike potatoes, oca's tubers store longer without sprouting when kept cool and dark. The plant's dual ornamental and productive character makes it useful for permaculture systems where aesthetic and functional roles overlap.
Watch out for
Oca requires consistent cool temperatures and short day length to initiate tuber formation, making it unsuitable for warm-season or long-day regions without specific cultivar selection. Tubers need 5-7 months of growth to reach harvestable size, so timing of planting relative to your first frost is critical for productive crops.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Oxalidaceae
Native Range
Andes Mountains, South America
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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