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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21 Mar 21, Jose (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
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 )
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20 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
They may keep for a few weeks in the fridge. There is a YouTube video
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13 Jul 18, PoMei (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have plenty of yacon eyes to plant and I will be at the Maleny markets on Sundays ...
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28 Sep 18, Carolyna (Australia - arid climate)
Hi PoMei. How much are you selling the yacon rhyzomes for? Have they been stored in coir or cool soil since harvesting? Have they started to sprout? How many are available? (Note from Gardenate - we don't promote selling; exchange or gift is our preferred option)
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24 Jun 18, Greg (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Firstly I’m not sure cool/mountain climate best describes my climate, Horsham Victoria (January average temperatures > 30 and cool winters with frosts. I planted Yacons in pots in August and garden bed in September. Plants still 2 - 3 feet high and green. When should/should have I dig them up? greg
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28 Jun 18, Mike L (Australia - temperate climate)
Read the comments here, it generally tells you these things. Plant time Oct -Nov. Harvest time 25 weeks.
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21 Apr 18, Jim (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Has anyone got any spare Yacon in Toowoomba? Cheers, JIm.
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23 Apr 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If no success try Boondie Seeds (lives in Armidale NSW) - they have them but sold out at the moment - contact her to find out when she might have them back in stock. Sometimes she has stock when the website says sold out.
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06 Apr 18, ron (Australia - temperate climate)
I put a post about Yacon on 30 Aug 17.We planted tubers in May ,ended up with 9 plants all put into pots . They are now Flowering . We can see some tubers now.Plants still green some have up to 5 stems & over 2 metres tall Thank You to Mountain Herbs @Katoomba. Great buy for $16.10 Would highly recommend them.!!Ron
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23 Mar 18, Graeme (Australia - temperate climate)
We had a great crop (considering 1st year in the ground.) This 2nd year the plants have flourished but haven't flowered. The plants are just beginning to feel the cooler monthes (we water but very dry). We have had no flowers this year. Should we be concerned? Thanks for any tips!
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Showing 61 - 70 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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