potaki :

Cultivation:

Grow in rich, fertile, moisture-retentive soils in full sun. Tolerates light shade. Easily grown from seed. Start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost date. Seed may also be planted directly in the garden at the last spring frost date. Use a slow-release fertilizer. When grown as a vegetable, train it on a sturdy trellis or other support. When grown for ornamental purposes, grow it on a fence or lamppost or other structure. Plants may also be allowed to simply trail along the ground. Plants are intolerant of frost and do not perform well if summer temperatures consistently dip below 59 degrees F. at night.

Propogation:

Seed sow period is March or April in a warm greenhouse. The seed requires a minimum temperature of 18 - 21°c in order to germinate it germinates within 10 - 21 days at 20°c, pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water shortens the germination time. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots of fairly rich compost and grow them on fast, planting them out after the last expected frosts. Stem cuttings: These can be taken in the late summer, overwintered in a greenhouse and then be planted out in late spring or early summer.

Harvesting:

Basella is usually ready for harvest in 30–45 days after planting. Plants may be harvested once or several times .Once-over harvest is adapted for early maturing and quick growing varieties. Stems or shoots 15–25 cm in length are cut close to the ground, washed, and tied in bundles. With multiple harvests, young leaves and shoots are picked at weekly intervals. Frequent harvesting delays flowering and stimulates growth of side shoots. When plants are not regularly harvested, side shoots develop into longer vines. There is a need to support long vines with trellis

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