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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06 Nov 17, ken chee (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi folks, I have now 6 plants growing very well in timber planter boxes and should be in a position to supply in 4 months time. Will let u know (with photos) then....
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13 Oct 17, kim (Australia - temperate climate)
This is my second year of growing Yukon I was just wondering if anybody knows if I can leave them into the ground to store the fruit for a few months like a potato thank you
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16 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Depending on where you live - I wouldn't leave them in the ground if a chance of rain/heavy rain - they would rot. We are having the wettest Oct on record where I live. Maybe store in a box with sand or just store them in a cool/dry place.
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07 Oct 17, Dru Butler (Australia - temperate climate)
Green Harvest have Yacon and other great plants
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28 Sep 17, Linda B (Australia - temperate climate)
Apologies for not checking my post...autocorrect put 'compacted' soil. I thought I typed 'composted' soil. I would imagine that compacting the soil would not be that great for a tuber! Sorry folks!
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25 Sep 17, Linda B (Australia - temperate climate)
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.
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14 Aug 17, Lyn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have been looking for a supplier of the rhizomes for a few months & have just stumbled on your page. Can someone let me know where I can get them (I am on the Gold Coast) I will need to build up a bed as we have very sandy soil. Any assistance will be gratefully received.
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26 Sep 17, Bob bell (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Lyn I have a lot of Yacon plants ready to plant out (extras I dont need) we live in Cleveland would be happy to give You as many as you need....anybody else looking for some I have a few that I dont have space to plant out...Cheers,
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07 Jun 23, Steve Dillon (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there Bob. Do you still have Yacon growing? If so, we would love to get some. Hope to hear from you soon. Have an awesome day. Cheers, Steve Dillon..
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05 Apr 20, Jeffrey Paul Hasenkam (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi Bob.. I live in Cleveland and would like to know where I can purchase some tubers and some yakon to eat. Thank you.
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Showing 71 - 80 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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