Wolf Seeds (@wolfseeds.bsky.social)

Mashua (Copy) Mashua is a rare plant related to garden Nasturtium that can be grown as a decorative climbing ornamental or a food crop for its tubers. It is sometimes referred to as one of the "lost" Inca crops. Probably because it is listed in the book "Lost Crops of the Incas - Little-Known…

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Mashua (Copy) Mashua is a rare plant related to garden Nasturtium that can be grown as a decorative climbing ornamental or a food crop for its tubers. It is sometimes referred to as one of the "lost" Inca crops. Probably because it is listed in the book "Lost Crops of the Incas - Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation" (available as PDF here). However, Mashua was never lost. It is still grown in the Andes region as a "minor" but quite nutritious food source. Native to the high altitudes of the Andes, it grows well in cooler climates as well as in wet and even poorer soils. The plant also has an excellent reputation for resistance to many pests and diseases. Its hardiness and vigour makes it a quite interesting and useful crop, particularly if our climate continues to change with more storms etc. Here in West Cork we grow it in a sunny position in our polytunnel. It is very easy to grow. Plant the tubers in April and harvest when the frost has killed the vines. You store tubers for the next planting in a pot or box with damp sand in a cool frost free environment. We found that so far it grows best for us when we let it climb on a support like a pole or runner bean. It loves to climb so be aware that it can shade other plants. The leaves and flowers are sometimes used in salads. They have an interesting mild tangy flavour that is spicy like mustard greens or radishes with a pleasant undertone of something similar to almond. The raw tubers have a much more pronounced tangy spiciness and they are often cooked which makes them milder. We prefer them oven roasted as a side dish, but allegedly they are also delicious in stews or as croquettes. You will receive a package containing 3 medium to large size tubers and 2 small to medium sized ones. This should be plenty for multiplying the crop. Some sources says a single plant can grow clusters of tubers of up to 4 kg. However, so far we have had normal yields of 1.5-2.5kg per plant in West Cork. In 2025 we have a limited amount of tubers for sale as we also keep some for ourselves and some for replanting. However, if there is interest in the crop we can multiply more for sale going forward. In 2025 we are also planting black skinned Mashua which will be available for 2026. Let us know what you think by sending us an email. https://wolfseeds.ie/product/mashua-copy/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social