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

13 Jun 15, Laura Parlapiano (Australia - arid climate)
Where can I buy Yacon plant in WA???? Please help .r thank you Laura
22 Dec 14, Annette (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
my yacon has been in for 20 weeks is doing well in full sun but is only about 3ft tall can I harvest soon
10 Nov 14, Sue Forsyth (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Where can I get tubers to grow in Tasmania?
27 Apr 17, David Donald (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi I have some plants growing. I am happy to share if I can get a piece to you. I am in Hobart.
06 Sep 14, beverly cengiz (Australia - temperate climate)
where can i buy tubers or plant in bayside areas melbourne victoria?
02 Apr 14, sue (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
were to bay seeds or plant yacon in austrlalia I love gardenig
13 Nov 13, Lorraine Davis (Australia - arid climate)
Hi, I was just wondering if the yacon is the same plant as the sunroot or better know as the Jerusalem artichoke. Thanks , Lorraine
20 Nov 13, Karen (Australia - temperate climate)
hey Lorraine, the yacon is not the Jerusalem artichoke but is a relative apparently also a relative of the sunflower. it is sweeter than the Jerusalem artichoke. do a search on google :) wikipedia will explain
11 Nov 13, Jessie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hey all, Diggers Club recently had yacon for sale and they will ship to Tassie too. I bought mine through eBay.
04 Nov 13, Cecilia Vargas (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello, can you please tell me where can buy some yacon small tubers, because, I visiting Peru last year and i eat this Beautiful fruit, I loved this plant tubers. Kind Regards. Please reply.
Showing 181 - 190 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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