edenhana

Kumara

Needs around five frost-free months above roughly 17C to bulk up, so it's a North Island staple; in cooler regions it's usually confined to Canterbury and typically not recommended further south.

Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
30cm
Harvest
Ready in 120-150 days
Difficulty
advanced
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury
Expected yield
3-5 tubers per plant
Cost to grow
~$15 NZD
Grocery value
~$45 NZD
Companion plants
Beans
Common diseases
Black rot
Common pests
Kumara weevil

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: October-December. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast and Christchurch / Canterbury: November.

Growing stages

  1. Planting & establishment

    • Needs warm soil (above about 17C) to establish, a big reason it's a North Island staple
    • In cooler regions (Canterbury and further south) growth is often too slow or unreliable
    • Water in slips well after planting to establish roots

  2. Vine growth

    • Vigorous vine growth over summer needs full sun and consistently warm conditions
    • Kumara weevil can attack developing vines and tubers
    • Black rot risk increases in poorly drained or waterlogged soil

  3. Tuber bulking

    • Needs around five frost-free months above roughly 17C to bulk up tubers properly
    • Kumara weevil damage often shows as tunnelling in tubers, so check soil drainage discourages it
    • Ease off watering as tubers near maturity, excess moisture can encourage black rot

  4. Harvest120-150 days from planting

    • Ready from about 120-150 days; lift before the first autumn frosts
    • Handle tubers carefully when lifting, bruised skin invites black rot in storage
    • Cure tubers in a warm spot after lifting for better storage

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