Kūmara Harvest & Soil Testing – Learning from the Whenua and our tai ao

This week we harvested our kūmara - a satisfying end to the season, and a chance to reflect on what the whenua is teaching us.

As we harvested, we could feel the temperature differences in the soil across different beds - some spots warm, others cool. That’s thermal mass in action, and it reminded us how important microclimates are in the māra.

We followed the harvest with some soil testing, especially in the beds where the healthiest kūmara grew. Ideal pH sits around 5.5, so we’re checking which beds are closest to that and which might need support before next season. Every test adds to our understanding.

We planted around five or six kūmara plants this year - from here, we’ll compare variety, yield, and soil conditions to help us optimise for next year’s hauhake.

Each season the māra gives back more than kai — it gives knowledge. And we’re here for it, learning as we grow.