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Roots

Yacon growing guide

Tall Andean perennial grown for crisp sweet storage tubers. Productive in warm temperate to subtropical gardens.

Photo reference

Use this real-world photo as the main plant reference, then compare it with the botanical drawings below for leaf, flower and harvest details.

Yacon real-world photo reference (Smallanthus sonchifolius)
Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
14-30 daysGermination
180-240 daysHarvest
75 cmSpacing
5 cmSow depth
FullSun
TenderFrost
2.5 cm/weekWater
6-7.5pH

Planting calendar by climate

Use these windows as a public guide. Plotera can personalise tasks around your saved garden, location and planting dates.

ClimateSowTransplant / PlantHarvest
TropicalJan - DecJan - DecJan - Dec
SubtropicalSep - DecSep - DecJan - Dec
MediterraneanSep - NovNov - DecJan - Dec
TemperateMar - MayMay - JunJul - Oct
CoolApr - MayJunAug - Oct
AridSep - NovSep - NovJan - Dec

Botanical reference

Compare the whole plant first, then check the leaf, flower and harvest detail to identify what Yacon should look like as it grows.

Yacon whole plant

Whole plant

Overall shape, height, branching and growth habit.

Yacon leaf detail

Leaf detail

Leaf shape, edges, colour and vein pattern.

Yacon flower detail

Flower detail

Flower colour, structure and where blooms appear.

Yacon harvest / detail

Harvest / detail

Fruit, root, seed, pod or the strongest identifying feature.

Cooking and eating ideas

A quick garden-to-table guide for using Yacon after harvest.

Raw / fresh

Many roots are delicious raw when thinly sliced, grated, or cut into crunchy sticks.

Cooked

Roast, bake, boil, mash, steam, pickle, or add to soups and tray bakes.

Store / preserve

Pickle, ferment, cellar-store, or roast and freeze depending on the crop.

Try: Raw crunch, Roasted tray, Quick pickle, Soup or mash.

Good companions

Beans, Corn

Avoid near

No avoid list yet.

Growing note

Harvest after tops die back. Save crown pieces for replanting.

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