Hooray, it’s alive! I’ve been tending my ube yam seed tubers for weeks, carefully keeping them in moist soil under my warm grow lights. And one of them has finally sprouted! I’m so excited to grow these for the first time this year.

This purple yam (Dioscorea alata) is an important crop in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines. It’s recently become more well known throughout the world, and is used in both savory dishes and desserts.

I’m really looking forward to growing these special tubers in my garden this year!