African Yam – Colombia – 3 Germinated Sets

2024 yam note:

“Sets” are a type of planting piece used to produce African yams in countries that grow this crop. This year we have experimented with producing lots of these so we can offer this incredible germ plasm to more customers. These sets were produced by cutting up yams, treating the cut surfaces with ash and then germinating in media for several weeks. Your order will include 3 sets which are showing signs of germination such as swelling buds and root formation. These are very viable planting pieces but won’t give as large of yields as the more scarce (therefore expensive) “head pieces,” which have more mass and germinate faster. However, these planting pieces are a great way to get started with your African yams which you can keep going forever with diligence. We have tried our best to segregate away yams with nematode damage to propagate from. Yam sets will be packed in a bag of moist sawdust for shipping. Don’t be alarmed to see some mold and rot setting in on the cut surfaces which is a normal process as the new buds progress into a plant. Average weight of each set is roughly 5 ounces with some pieces being significantly larger and some smaller. Plant into a good spot ASAP upon receiving. The featured photo shows the smallest yam size we will mail, most are actually larger than this.

This is a representative of the West African yam, which we originally purchased with a label indicating it was grown in Colombia.  In West Africa, true yams are a very important food source and their cultivation goes back many thousands of years.  The West African yams are dense and starchy.  We tried a number of varieties of this species and have only had great success with this one clone.  We believe it is variation in nematode susceptibility that causes this dramatic difference in performance.  When grown well, this can be a highly productive root crop for Florida gardens.  These yams are very smooth and easy to peel compared to other types.  The flesh is of high eating quality.  The growing season is 9-10 months.  True yams need to have a robust trellis structure for their rampant vines.

Unlike the more common winged yam (Dioscorea alata) this is not a regulated species in Florida.  It does not produce bulbils and for reasons too complicated to get into here, will not produce viable seeds.  Therefore, the risk of this becoming a weed like some other Dioscorea species is zero.

This listing is for 3 yam planting pieces. Planting pieces are freshly dug and cut surfaces are covered in agricultural lime to prevent rotting. We are currently mailing head pieces with active buds or shoots, the most ideal planting pieces for yams. Pieces will be 7 oz at a minimum with many weighing more. Unfortunately, we missed the narrow window to dig before shoots emerged. Long shoots will be pruned before shipping. Branching will emerge from the cut shoots or new shoots will emerge from the tuber head rapidly.

Dioscorea rotundata.