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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04 Aug 16, Bettina (Australia - temperate climate)
Would like to grow a yacon rhizome. Where can I buy one. We are living in north east Victoria.
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03 Aug 16, Wendy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
hi there can anyone tell me where i can buy the Yakon tuber Thank you Wendy
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02 Jul 16, Raelene Gavin (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I've just received some yacon rizomes and live in Geelong, Victoria. They are currently wrapped up in coco fibre and peat moss or something similar and in a plastic bag. I want to plant them in pots. If the best time to plant is October / November, what can I do with them now? Can I store them the way they are or should I plant in pots and keep under cover so they won't get frost on them? Thank you
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14 Jun 16, Jan saunders (Australia - temperate climate)
Dear Ellen, if you still have any Yacon roots I would love one to grow. I can swap you for another plant of your choice if you like. I live in Sydney. If anyone else has one they would like to give away I would very much appreciate it. Thanks very much Jan
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28 May 16, Joy clewett (Australia - temperate climate)
We have grown ours great , someone asked should it be in full sun always
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10 Apr 16, Kim (Australia - tropical climate)
I'm in Broome WA (tropical?) can I grow Yacon up here? If so where best to purchase? Kim
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22 May 16, Lesley (Australia - tropical climate)
I am also in Broome and chasing some Yakon. Kim, did you manage to track some down. Cheers Lesley
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16 Feb 16, Steve warner (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I received information that the properties from Sunroot taken orally are a rejuvenation to life healing or giving relief to many ailments including arthritis, diabetes, rheumatics, cholesterol etc. Seems too good to be true. Can you support their claim? I would like to grow it, can you help me?
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30 Jan 16, Hanafi W (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I buy YAKON in WA, Australia ?
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02 Jan 16, graciela Vrinat (Australia - temperate climate)
Where I can by Yacon, I from Sydney Australia
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Showing 151 - 160 of 216 comments
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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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