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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01 Jun 19, June (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Diggers Club don't have the Yacon would you be willing to post to me I will of course cover all costs.
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02 Aug 18, Heather-anne Lang (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi I live on Pirongia in the Waikato and am wanting to grow some yacon. Does anyone have any crowns to share or sell. Because we are on the side of a mountain we don't get frosts so hopefully it will grow well. Thanks.
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08 Feb 19, Jay (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Heather, Did you get any yakon when you inquired? I live in the village and have just been given a plant, we could share.
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30 Jul 18, Chris Gee (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grew one Yacon last year a couple of small tubers (just a taste) I have broken up the roots and put them into 200mm pots can I plant these into the garden now or should I dig them up and plat later if so when should I plant?. I live just north of Mackay Qld.
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31 Jul 18, Linda Shewan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have grown yacon for many years and I usually just replant immediately if I'm somewhere the frosts aren't too harsh. I live in a colder zone now so I have dug them up and put them inside and will replant after last frost date this year. You only replant the rhizomes, not the tubers. So dig them up, eat the tubers and replant the rhizomes into individual spots.
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31 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - tropical climate)
You are Tropical and it says plant April to July. Read the notes here.
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29 Jan 19, Chris Gee (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We are on the coast 40Km north of Mackay and we are usually 2-3 degrees cooler than Rocky so I have been using the sub tropical zone and it usually works fine.
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01 Jun 19, June (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We are on the sunshine coast and can't find a supplier anywhere could you advise where you got yours from please.
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19 Jul 18, Gawie Steyn (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Caroline Can you help us to get some Yacon to plant. Thanks Gawie
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19 Jul 18, Julie Bourke (Australia - temperate climate)
I have just harvested about 5 kgs of yacon tubers and I was wondering how long they will last before cooking/eating and should they be kept in the fridge?? I am just trying to work out whether it is best to give most away or whether they will last until we eat them....5kgs is rather a lot of yacon!!! Can you overdose on it???
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