From Paddock to Puku

Our Nursery Beds

With the passing of Winter, in the months of September and October, Kumara seed is planted in our Nursery Beds. Here they are tended carefully until the sprouting shoots reach 25-30cm in height, each with about eight leaves. Then it is time for them to be transplanted to our Kumara Gardens. To avoid any risk of transferring pests or disease from the Nursery Bed soil, the sprouts (often called Cuttings) are cropped above the ground.

Our Kumara Gardens

While the sprouts are being tended in the Nursery Beds, Delta Growers are carefully preparing the condition of the Gardens. Working within strict GAP guidelines, the soil is tested, fertilised if needed, weeded, aerated and brought into optimum growing condition to take and nurture the kumara cuttings to full and healthy maturity.

Long ridges are created in the naturally flat, rich, alluvial fields. It is into these raised beds that the cuttings are planted 30-45cm apart to give each of them the growing room that they need.

Growing Conditions

Kumara is a tropical plant, and New Zealand's climate allows for one crop per year. Northland provides ideal growing conditions thanks to warm, humid nights and consistent summer heat.

Planting season: September–December (with November being optimal).

Harvest season: February–May.

From Nursery to Field

Kumara begins its cycle in on-farm propagation beds. Each grower maintains 1,000–5,000 metres of nursery beds, covered in plastic and carefully watered and fertilised. After about six weeks, shoots ('slips') reach 300mm and are cut and graded for quality.

These slips are planted in the field, watered several times, and develop roots before growing into vines that cover the paddock. Over four months, the fine roots swell into tubers, becoming harvest-ready Kumara.