Growing Yacon, also Sunroot

Smallanthus sonchifolius : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	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

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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02 May 17, John (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I haven't but I see no reason why you couln't.
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29 Apr 17, Angie (Australia - temperate climate): Hi Where can I purchase the yacon plant? I live in Canberra Thanks Angie
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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.
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29 Apr 17, Fouad (Australia - temperate climate): Where can I buy yacon seeds or bulbs
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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.
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05 Jan 17, russell bunce (Australia - temperate climate): what are the health benefits from eating Yacon
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30 Dec 16, Virginia Contreras (Australia - temperate climate): Where can I purchase yacon tuber to plant?
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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
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03 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate): Green Harvest at Maleny in QLD and Waldecks in Perth
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Don't fridge yacon tuber. Only the rhizomes, if you need to fridge any of it. Cool cupboard or hung in a cotton bag in the garage in a dark spot works well. These will last many months. Most yacon people watch for when the outside starts to grow some surface mould and then consume the last ones quickly. The mould just cuts off, hasn't entered the tuber. Yacon will look AWFUL and squishy and gross in a matter of weeks and that's when they are best consumed. So age them for a few weeks at least. I'd say 5 months is a minimum to be able to store them and last year I got mine to 8 months before I saw any issues. I'm in a cool and dry climate. The only overdose you'll achieve on yacon is a lot of insoluble fibre that many westerners are not used to and your belly bugs will love and you and others around you may not appreciate. It has no ill effect though and is healthy. If you eat predominantly a vegan or veggo diet than it may not have this effect for you. (Gardenate : More information here https://www.permaculture.co.uk/How-to-grow-harvest-eat-yacon )

- Jose

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Growing Yacon, also Sunroot

Smallanthus sonchifolius : Asteraceae / the daisy family

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