How to Grow Kūmara
Share
🌱 How to Grow Kūmara
Kūmara is a traditional crop grown by Māori for centuries and remains a beloved fixture in home gardens today. Slips are the small rooted shoots grown from a kūmara tuber, and with the right care you can too.
1️⃣ Choose the Right Spot
Select a sunny, sheltered location with free-draining soil. Kūmara thrive in warmth and do not tolerate frost, so delay planting until late spring or early summer. Ensure the soil temperature is at least 18 °C for best establishment.
2️⃣ Prepare the Soil
Work the soil deeply and incorporate compost or well-rotted manure. Kūmara favour a slightly sandy, fast-warming bed that drains well — create raised mounds or rows about 30 cm wide by 20 cm high for ideal conditions.
3️⃣ Planting Slips
- Dig a shallow trench along the top of your mound or row.
- Lay each slip horizontally in the trench so the roots and lower stem are buried, with only the top few leaves above the surface.
- Gently firm the soil around the base and water well immediately after planting.
- Spacing: plant slips about 30 cm apart, with rows spaced 60–80 cm apart.
💡 Tip: Laying slips horizontally within the trench promotes more feeding roots, supporting stronger, more uniform tuber development.
4️⃣ Watering & Feeding
Keep the soil evenly moist while the slips establish (≈ 2–3 weeks). Once established and growing strongly, reduce frequency but increase depth of watering — kūmara dislike waterlogged soil. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers (which promote excessive leafy growth at the expense of tubers); instead use a balanced organic fertiliser or seaweed tonic.
5️⃣ Growing On
As vines spread, lift or gently pull them up every few weeks to prevent them putting down roots along their runners. This helps redirect energy into the main plant and encourages the growth of larger, well-formed tubers. Maintain weed control and apply a mulch of straw or compost to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature.
6️⃣ Harvesting
After approximately 4–5 months, or before the first frost, your kūmara will be ready for harvest. You’ll notice leaves beginning to yellow. Use a fork to lift the tubers carefully, dry them in the sun for a day or two, then store in a cool, dry place to cure for about a week before eating.
Shop Kūmara Slips: Click here to view availability →