Ube farming is one of the most profitable agricultural activities that is enjoyed by many, especially in Central to Northern Luzon and Bohol. Ube or purple yam is a tropical plant that’s known for its purple-colored tubers. You can grow it in your garden, or even indoors if you have an area with bright light and cool temperatures. It’s easy to plant and grow, and it will produce charming purple flowers on long stems above the foliage.
Although ube is usually planted with other crops like bananas and other fruit trees, ube can also be planted in pots. This guide is for small-scale backyard ube farming.
Ube farming soil preparation
Use soil that is not too heavy or light. The best way to get this right is by using a good-quality potting mix, which should contain enough strength to support your plant’s roots but also allow it to breathe.
Soil should be rich in organic matter and well drained; the latter means that water can flow easily through your planting area without pooling up at its edges (or sitting on top of it), while the former ensures that nutrients are available for plants to use in their growth process.
You’ll want pH balance as well—the pH scale numbers indicate how acidic or basic something is—and most soils fall somewhere between neutral (7) and slightly alkaline (7).
Planting purple yam is best done at the end of the summer during the months of May. The reason for this is that the rainy season is approaching and will be good for your plant, which could lead to it dying back or not growing as well.
You can also add compost to the soil before planting. Compost is made from decomposed organic matter, which contains nutrients for plants. It’s a good source of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus for your purple yam.
Compost can be purchased at your local garden center or you can make it yourself using materials like leaves and grass clippings from around your yard. Simply mix these with some dirt in an open container (like a bucket) and let it sit for about two weeks before applying them to your growing area—this will allow enough time for any potential pathogens in those materials to die off naturally so they won’t harm your plants once they’re planted in the soil!
Planting of Ube
To plant the tubers with the round side up, place them in a row about 1 foot apart. Use a trowel or hoe to dig holes and push them into the ground, and make sure that each tuber is firmly planted.
To plant the tubers with their flat sides down, use a stick or garden fork to poke holes in the ground around each tuber. Be sure not to dig too deeply because this can damage them if done incorrectly!
In addition to planting your purple yam seeds directly into their own pots or containers, you can also take advantage of vertical spaces in your yard by suspending some of your seedlings from stakes as they grow taller—this will make them easier for pets and kids alike access without having any fear of falling off cliffs or fences!
Water regularly
- Watering is important to keep the soil moist.
- Watering should be done regularly, but not too much.
- Watering should be done in the morning or evening when it’s cooler outside so that you don’t accidentally overwater them if they’re on a deck or balcony while you’re watering your lawn.
- You can use a watering can or hose to water them with water from an outdoor spigot near where you plan on planting them (for example: behind your house). The goal is for the soil to feel damp, but not soggy—so don’t let them sit in standing water!
Watch out for slugs and aphids
Slugs are a major problem for growing purple yams. They can damage the roots and leaves of your plant, so it’s important to keep them at bay. To do this, you’ll need to use a natural pesticide called slug pellets (available at garden centers). These pellets contain borax, which kills slugs on contact by dehydrating them or drying their skin out like they were sunburned. If you don’t have any slug pellets on hand or want an alternative approach to keeping slugs away from your plants, then consider using water sprayers or salt solutions instead—these will also kill aphids but aren’t as effective against other pests such as snails and ants who might be living in the soil around your yam plant!
Growing and farming Ube is a fun activity!
Purple yam is a fun project for gardeners and it’s pretty easy!
Purple yam is a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and calcium. It also contains high levels of fiber which makes it great for you to eat or use in your favorite recipes.
Questions related to ube farming in the Philippines
How long does it take for ube to grow?
Ube usually grows several days after it is planted but takes at least 8 months to be harvested. For better results, let the ue last for 2 years. it will have a better tuber after 2 years.
What region is the highest producer of ube in the Philippines?
In the Philippines, it is grown particularly in the Northern Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Central Visayas, and Northern Mindanao regions, usually in small patches of land. Raw ube tubers are seasonally available and are oftentimes in short supply.
How much is a kilo of ube?
in 2022-2023, the price of Ube ranges between P90 to P120 deoending on the season.
Is there an ube shortage?
“It has been our struggle in recent years to find a stable supply. And in the past weeks, there were none.” Due to dwindling local production and the need to meet export demands, ube flavoring and color have become common in Asian countries. Scarcity in the supply of the crop has also resulted in high prices.
What province is ube from?
The province of Bohol is home to a special type of tuber, the ube kinampay. Recognized as the “Queen of Philippine Yams” by the Bureau of Plant Industry, the ubi kinampay is favored for having smooth and round roots, a sweet flavor, a distinct aroma, and vibrant color that ranges from marbled purple-white to deep purple.
Is ube from Japan or Philippines?
Though ube is originally native to the Philippines, it’s recently become an international sensation for its unique color and sweet, starchy flavor.
Does yam need fertilizer?
Fertilization is an important management strategy for yams (Dioscorea spp.), especially when grown in degraded soils. A field study evaluated the leaf numbers, leaf area indices, crop growth, yields, and nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) use efficiencies of D. alata and D.
Is ube high in cholesterol?
Ube which has been described as a hypoallergenic fruit has an indigo-coloured covering over a greenish pulp and a firm seed inside. It also contains carbohydrates, fat (no cholesterol), vitamins (C, B1, B6, Folate, Niacin) and minerals (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorous, Iron, and zinc).
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this guide to growing purple yam for the first time. Even if you’re not a gardener, there are plenty of ways to help out at home by bringing in extra vegetables from the garden or from your local farmers’ market. We also hope that you will get inspired to experiment with other types of plants as well so that when the weather gets warm again next summer, your backyard will be bursting with color!
See Also:
- The Whitehackle Gamefowl and Its Fighting Style
- Hatch Gamefowl History and Fighting Style
- Vertical Farming in the Philippines
- Mushroom Farming in the Philippines
- The Leiper Hatch Gamefowl and Its Fighting Styles