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

02 May 17, John (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I haven't but I see no reason why you couln't.
29 Apr 17, Angie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Where can I purchase the yacon plant? I live in Canberra Thanks Angie
30 Apr 17, Sean (Australia - temperate climate)
Green Harvest and Diggers advertise it on line. I also noted that there is a few people who have it advertised on Gumtree.
29 Apr 17, Fouad (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I buy yacon seeds or bulbs
30 Apr 17, Sean (Australia - temperate climate)
Diggers and Green Harvest list it online. Doubtless there are others. A number of sellers have it listed on Gumtree.
05 Jan 17, russell bunce (Australia - temperate climate)
what are the health benefits from eating Yacon
30 Dec 16, Virginia Contreras (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I purchase yacon tuber to plant?
05 Apr 17, steve Kennewell (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Virginia I have Yacon growing at Mt Burnett, Vic. I'm happy to share some if you want to send me a self addressed post pack. cheers Steve
03 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Green Harvest at Maleny in QLD and Waldecks in Perth
02 Jan 17, Aardie (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought mine at Bunnings very cheap
Showing 111 - 120 of 216 comments

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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