A report from a member of the mashua growers society

[DARREN JAMES]

Hi all not long ago some of us lucky people thanks to Jan were able to purchase a rare sth american tuber.Having not heard much lately regarding on how everyones is growing I thought I would show mine to compare  with maybe  the other lucky growers .I am growing mine in a 70 litre pot on the eastern side so as not for it to be in too much sun,after all it did come from tassie and I also have it covered in netting.How is everyones?owers growth and state of their plants.

[Lissa]

My two are goners then. I have left the frames there to remind me where they were planted in the hope that they reshoot later.

[DARREN JAMES]

Ive noticed the hot weather of late has taken its toll on mine also,yesterday I covered my drum with shadecloth to see what happens,May even put it in the shadehouse

[Elaine de Saxe]

Mine has disappeared pending - I hope - cooler weather. I have the spot marked so if it decides to re-enter the land of the living at least I'll know where it is.

[Lissa]

My two plants aren't liking this heat. They both look awful. Hopefully they will survive summer and make a full recovery when the cooler weather comes back.

How are others plants faring?

[Lissa]

There's actually been a lot of growth on my plants when I compare the original photos with those taken this morning.

[DARREN JAMES]

I did leave mine in the original pots under the patio for a couple of weeks before planting in the large drum. The large pot is getting shade from a large elderberry tree wich is soon going to be   chopped down after harvesting my flowers.I will probably fit my summer outfit on my drum as it does get hotter this is a shade cloth designed to fit over like my normal drum garden.

[Lissa]

Yours is looking very good Darren. I planted both of mine on the eastern side under the cover of some taller plants. Yours growing out in the open suggest I may have been too concerned.

Both are doing well enough though not putting on as much growth as your plant. Both plants look much the same though one is putting out some new shoots from the base.

New shoots:

[Dave Riley]

Mine in full sun did not prosper, but the other two are doing fine. Not as luxuriant as yours but settled into their new home. I'm planning on taking a cutting ASAP and trialling it in a pot situation.

It was a mistake on my part to plant it out in the garden without some fretting, but since I'm covered in nasturtiums outback I thought I was on easy street.

I confess I got distracted by other LatinAmerican plants like Tree Spinach and Huauzontle.

But Mashua -- I gather -- when it takes off it takes off! (See image). So it either moves in ...or not.

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