Oca, Pascou

Oca information and growing instructions

Pascou is reportedly a Peruvian variety.  It is also sold under the names ‘Frank’s Bicolor’, ‘Monster’, ‘OE Durazno’, and probably others.  I do not recommend growing this variety if you obtained it from us before 2019, as it was carrying a virus.  Tubers offered now have been cleaned and tested.

Culinary Traits

Pascou is slightly sweet and just barely tart before exposure, a combination that is a little bit squash-like.  The cooked flesh is yellow, sometimes with a red center, moderately firm and retains the yellow color well through cooking.

Agronomic Traits

Pascou plants are large and sprawling at maturity.  Tubers are produced on long stolons and are typically uniform.  Tuberization photoperiod is about 12 hours, like most heirloom varieties.  Average yield is just about one pound.  Maximum tuber length is 4.2 inches, although the tubers are quite bulky.  Average tuber length is 2.4 inches.  Average tuber count is 26.  The numbers for this variety will need to be updated as they were collected before it was freed of virus.  Yield has been better than what is currently stated.  This variety can be a very impressive producer of large tubers if you have a long enough growing season.  If you can grow frost-free until December, Pascou is a good choice.  Where frost comes earlier, early varieties will size up faster and produce better.

Pascou is a moderate flowerer with a mid-styled flower, flowering here from late June through September.