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 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 100 cm 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 Jun 19, Tina (Australia - temperate climate)
My daughter grows them in Gawler and I grow them in Naracoorte where it is cooler. let me know if you want a tuber
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15 Sep 19, noel (Australia - arid climate)
would love a tuber live . kapunda
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24 Feb 19, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Read the article here about growing it. Try the internet for buying - Diggers Club may have it.
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24 Feb 19, Liz at Gardenate (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Chris grew them in Armidale, (cool/mountain zone) so you should be okay
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28 Jan 19, Chris Gee (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have grow a Yacon as a test run and it went OK so I have 10 plants in now and they are about 1m high. When I harvest can I just plant the rhizomes straight away back into the ground or should I pot them first?
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29 Jan 19, m (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the above (info on growing yacon for Sub-Tropical Australia) or google it.
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10 Nov 18, Sarah Hulley (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Everyone I was wondering if anyone managed to find Yacon roots for planting?
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14 Aug 18, TONY MCRAE (Australia - temperate climate)
I am on the east coast of Tasmania and would like to get hold of some Yacon plants. Does anyone have any available? I can collect north or south of the state. Thanks, Tony.
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04 Oct 18, Janice (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Tony, I am in Hobart and have recently harvested my Yacon and have several clumps of Rhizomes/tubers available if interested. Happy to give away. They grow well here and multiply ++ I acquired my first tuber from a friend in Burnie (they grow well there) ... founder of Food Plants International, which has produced the largest database (fee online) of edible food plants in the world.
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09 Jun 20, Trevor Clark (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Janice I am also in the hobart area and was hoping to obtain some Yacon tubers or root stock. Can you please point me in the right direction, cheers trevor
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