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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05 Jan 16, Eilean Watson (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Graciela, I have a couple of spare yacon plants in small pots ready to be planted in garden. They're free. Do you wan them? If so, feel free to email me directly to arrange pickup. Eilean
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07 Jan 16, Graciela Vrinat (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Eilean, Iwould like to have them, can you tell me where I can pickup them
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13 Jan 16, Eilean Watson (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Graciela, Please email me at [email protected] to arrange pickup. I'm also in Sydney.
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25 May 16, Alex Buitrago (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello I'm on the Gold Coast and came across this in Colombia recently and would like to plant some in my garden. Anyone know where I can find it up this way?
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11 Dec 15, Margaret Carrington (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I buy Yacon in Launceston Tasmania? Many thanks.
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27 Apr 17, David Donald (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have some plants. If you email me I am happy to share some tubers. I am in Hobart but can probably get some to Launceston.
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27 Sep 15, chris.guiana (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live on the mid north coast of NSW, my sister gave me some yacon to try also one sprouting, unfortunately I think I might have killed it with kindness and am looking to get more tubers for growing and also is there anywhere in our area where I can purchase to use as have used in salads and in stir fries and thoroughly enjoy their freshness and texture.
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14 Oct 15, Bronwyn (Australia - temperate climate)
You can often get small plants and the tubers for eating from Colin Amos at the Wauchope Farmers Market.
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24 Jul 15, Brian (Australia - arid climate)
you can plant it now in July in the middle of winter frost, but it won't come up till it starts getting warm. Mine are in the ground at the moment, and we get frosts till early November. It will come up when it's ready.
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15 Jul 15, Meg (Australia - arid climate)
Where can I buy yacon to plant in South Australia
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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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