Chinese yam update

I sowed the yam tubercles in the greenhouse back in April and planted them out at the beginning of June. I made a little bed for them by the shed there, adding plenty of compost of course, and because the area is weedy with field bindweed I lined it with weed control fabric to a depth of about 50 cm. Most of them have managed to reach the top of their little sticks so I've put some bigger ones in. Next year they should make lots more foliage and this is also when the yam tubers should be ready for harvesting. The side of the shed faces south-west. Spoilt to death they are so they'd better perform. The marigolds are for good luck.

Chinese Yam (Dioscorea batatas)

I first read about this unusual tuber on Ken Fern's Plants For A Future website and managed to obtain some tubercles from John in York. I've started them off in pots so it'll be interesting to see how they turn out. Fingers crossed they germinate, that would be a start.