Growing Yacon, also Sunroot

Smallanthus sonchifolius : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec

Not recommended for growing in USA - Zone 5a regions

  • Easy to grow. Plant sprouting root/tuber to a depth of about 4cm and mulch to cover. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 39 inches apart
  • Harvest in approximately 25 weeks. You can collect a few at a time without digging out the whole plant..
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best in separate bed

Your comments and tips

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07 May 17, MARY (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
my question is can yacon be grown in Perth, wa. Where can i find the plant readily to grow. Can you find them in markets or greegrocers
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20 May 17, Tricia (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mary, Waldecks currently have Yacon for what appears to be much less than the private sellers & they are healthy plants.
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07 May 17, Jack (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Yes it can. There is currently an advertisement on Gumtree for Yacon plants in the Joondalup area. You may find them in green grocers or whole food stores that sell produce.
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02 May 17, Andrew kirk (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
How to grow it in my area it get very hot and cold here
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03 May 21, Melanie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I live in Albury. I have been growing them here for about 6 years. We have not got many left. We have given many away. We have left them for a couple of years. Due to illness. But this year we plan to dig them out, and replant them. We have very hot days and frosty days. They do not mind. But they are growing behind a wall. With a fence on one side. So I guess it is some what sheltered.
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02 May 17, Jack (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You could plant sprouted tubers in October or November in your cooler climate. It would be ready for harvest in April or may but you could carefully take some tubers earlier.
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02 May 17, Belinda heading (Australia - arid climate)
I live in Adelaide. Where can I buy a yacon plant from please?
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02 May 17, Giovanni (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Diggers in Melbourne and Green Harvest in SE Queensland list it. There will be others. It is listed on Gumtree also, have a look there.
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30 Apr 17, Diann Collison (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I live in Adelaide. Does anyone grow them here successfully?
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16 Dec 19, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I grow them successfully in Christie's Beach. We experienced a very rare frost this year which knocked the leaves around but the plants all survived and are now looking great.
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In July I planted some tubers I got from my relative in the Blue Mountains ...cold up there. Came back to Brisbane and left them lying around for a few days before I got round to finding a big enough garden bag/soil to plant in. Put them NOT too deep in organic compacted soil and in a week or two they shot up. Now in September they are growing very quickly and looking great. The tubers had gone a bit 'soft' before I planted them but all seems to have gone fine...so far. Not sure when they may reach flower and die back. Excited to see what happens.

- Linda B

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