The Tropical Fruit Forum

Everything Else => Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles => Topic started by: Pokeweed on September 22, 2021, 09:25:30 AM

Title: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: Pokeweed on September 22, 2021, 09:25:30 AM

Thanks to several kind forum members, I have some very happy dioscorias growing and making bulbils that I need to think about over Wintering. How do you folks store them? Thanks, Dan

Title: Re: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: Galatians522 on September 22, 2021, 10:13:18 PM

I have seen them stored in the dark on a garage shelf in a single layer. It apparently works ok for a couple months, but eventually they start to sprout and will need to be planted.

Title: Re: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: Pokeweed on September 23, 2021, 07:03:16 AM

Thanks. Maybe this will be a mild Winter and it won't matter. After last year's freeze we need a mild Winter....Dan

Title: Re: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: Galatians522 on September 23, 2021, 09:06:10 PM

I think the ones I mentioned started sprouting in March.

Title: Re: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: nullroar on September 26, 2021, 11:05:36 AM

it's all about keeping them in a cool, dry place with airflow. There are a gazillion studies on what inhibits or encourages sprouting (everything from essential oils to keeping them near or far from apples, due to the ethylene). Bottom-line is it seems no one really knows with potatoes, and dioscorea yams, while a close cousin, are even less well understood.

But cool, dry, and with airflow are what helped me keep my dioscorea from sprouting for 6 or so months.

Title: Re: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: Pokeweed on September 27, 2021, 08:03:27 AM

Thanks for the info. I only need 3 or 4 months. Some of these bulbils are getting really big. They should have enough energy to store for a relatively long time. Regards, D

Title: Re: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: Galatians522 on September 27, 2021, 09:25:25 PM

3-4 months should definitely be doable.

Title: Re: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: pineislander on October 23, 2021, 07:33:35 AM

Just keep in the closet but check every few weeks you will see them start to grow after about 3 months. Best in a single layer in a cardboard box not plastic plenty of air circulation.

Title: Re: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: Pokeweed on October 23, 2021, 07:56:45 AM

Thanks. Good advice. D

Title: Re: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: pineislander on October 23, 2021, 08:03:19 AM

I left some packed too tightly and they spoiled, so just be careful of that.

Title: Re: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: nullroar on November 04, 2021, 03:04:03 AM

I'm storing 4 large ones from a late harvest.

My advice? use "fill" paper that goes in gift bags (similar consistency to the super cheap, nearly-abrasive single-ply toilet paper, and gently place it in a crumple of that paper, in a brown paper bag, with the open side completely open, still. I got my prior Dioscorea bubils to go 8 months w/o sprouting because of that (at room temperatures, too).

Title: Re: Storing yam bulbils
Post by: Pokeweed on November 04, 2021, 06:47:26 AM

Impressive. I'll try that. We are just now dipping into the 50s and will warm back up. Hoping they will stay on the vine another month. Thanks! D