Does anyone have a source for purple-fleshed yams like those grown in Asia? They are apparently quite common in places like Taiwan, and in some of the island nations of the Pacific. Another name for them is Okinawan Sweet Potato or Okinawan Yam. The ones I'm looking for are definitely Ipomoea (not true yams like Dioscoreas). Here's one of many links out there: http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64. I've found them at Asian groceries, but they are always heat-treated and never sprout (probably because they are shipped in from overseas). LSU has done some breeding research on them to maximize the color (which is an antioxidant) and while it would be nice to get hold of some of that improved stock I'd be happy to find any of the purple varieties for my home garden.
Purple "yams" (really sweet potatoes)
Sandhills Preservation usually offers several purple varieties http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/catalog/sweet_potatoes.html Among those listed are: Purple: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Vigorous vines, normal leaf, deep purple skin, deep purple flesh, above average yield. To keep the deep purple color after cooking, you must cook these with the skins on. Very slow to sprout. Okinawan: Very late. Pale lavender skin, purple flesh, dry flesh, a very poor sprouter. These are not recommended for people who do not live in a very hot climate. While we are able to barely maintain this variety, we only get sporadic crops of very small roots and do not feel comfortable offering it for sale. It is way too long a season for most American gardeners. Korean Purple: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Vining, dark green colored normal leaves, purple skin, white flesh, excellent yields. Very sweet when baked with skins on. There are several others with purple skin and white flesh.
My favorite yam is Korean Purple. Amazing flavor. They are readily available at our huge international market which is Asian owned and operated. I hadn't given thought to them being treated to retard or prevent sprouting. Now I might try to sprout some indoors because I winter over decorative Ipmomeas as stem cuttings. The decorative ones are not supposed to be very good eating.
Thanks, FarmerDill. I know it's really the wrong time of year to go looking for slips. I have also run into a few other references today to follow up, but most are sold out of starts for 2011, and it's really too late to start them even here in Gainesville FL.
MaypopLaurel, I've been to that market in Atlanta years ago (my parents lived in Atlanta). It was an amazing place. I can't even find the purple-fleshed sweet potatoes to eat down here in Gainesville, much less save for slips. I'm hoping to find some roots to start my own in a few months. I did it years ago with a store-bought orange-fleshed type - it's pretty simple if you start with good disease-free roots.
Yes, it is amazing. I returned from there an hour ago with a fresh fish haul and some exotic veggies I don't grow. I also got Scotch bonnets to make a batch of jerk (and save seed). A lady dropped a jackfruit on her foot. Ouch! They have expanded to about eighty or ninety square feet, added an Eastern European foods and fresh bakery and "fancied up" quite a bit. I checked out the sweet taters/yams. They had purple yams, red and white sweets, Yampi yams, and Korean sweets (separate from the purple). Then there were the usuals like garnets.
Guess I'm going to have to find an excuse for a road trip. I used to be on speaking terms with my sister, who lives there...long story.