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
  • Yacon flowering

Yacon is perennial in sub-tropical/tropical areas. Save some root pieces and treat as an annual in other areas.

Grows into a large plant (about 2 m/6ft) with flowers similar to sunflowers and Jerusalem artichokes.

The plants die down after frost but the roots are sweeter. To store, dig and dry out for a couple of days in the sun if possible. Store in a dry, cool, not freezing and dark place.

Any roots left in the ground will grow the following year except where there are frosts.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Yacon

The large roots can be used raw in salads peel and chop. Sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent browning.
"In the Andes, they are grated and squeezed through a cloth to yield a sweet refreshing drink. The juice can also be boiled down to produce a syrup. In South America the juice is concentrated to form dark brown blocks of sugar called chancaca." (Green Harvest)

Your comments and tips

26 May 11, Jo (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You can also peel, slice, dip in water and lemon juice and put in a dehydrator. Once dry, eat as chips or grind into a flour to use as a sugar substitute. :D
05 Jan 12, Jackie C (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Do you have info. about who sells plant or fruit to grow?.. (So. Florida)
28 Apr 12, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Nichols Garden Nursery in Albany, OR has Yacon. They sell via the web.
14 Jun 16, Jakes (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Looking for Yacon tubers.
16 Feb 12, Julie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can you please tell me where I can buy this plant
06 Aug 12, stephen (Australia - temperate climate)
Diggers club
28 Mar 13, Matt from Canberra (Australia - temperate climate)
Many people sell yacon from their gardens, look for it on allclassifieds.com.au during the winter time.
03 Aug 13, l Al Fry (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Julie, I can let you have some yacon small tubers ready for planting if you want, No charge , you just to pay postage. Al
19 Jul 14, Daniel C (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Al, I'd like some tubers too .if you don't mind. I'd pay for the postage. Thanks . Daniel
23 Feb 12, Gill (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
www.daleysfruit.com.au stock yacon
Showing 1 - 10 of 355 comments

Where can I get it in New Jersey and what is its name

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