Yacon Plant Care: Yacon Planting Guide And Information
Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a fascinating plant. Above, it looks something like a sunflower. Below, something like a sweet potato. Its taste is most frequently described as very fresh, a cross between an apple and a watermelon. It is also known as sweet-root, Peruvian ground apple, Bolivian sunroot, and pear of the earth. So, what is a yacon plant?
Yacon Root Info
The yacon is native to the Andes, in present-day Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. It’s gaining worldwide popularity, however, in part because of its unusual source of sweetness. Unlike most tubers, which get their sweetness from glucose, yacon root derives its sweetness from inulin, which the human body can’t process. This means you can taste the sweetness of yacon root, but your body won’t metabolize it. This is good news for people looking to lose weight and especially good news for diabetics. The yacon plant can grow to 6.5 feet (2 m.) in height, topped in small, daisy-like yellow flowers. Underground, there are two distinct elements. On top is a collection of reddish rhizomes that looks a bit like a ginger root. Below that are the brown, edible tubers, very similar in appearance to a sweet potato.
How to Grow Yacon Plants
Yacon does not propagate by seed, but by rhizome: that clump of red just below the soil. If you are beginning with unsprouted rhizomes, keep them in a dark place, slightly covered in damp sand. Once they’ve sprouted, plant them at a depth of 1 inch (2.5 cm) in well-worked, composted soil, and cover them with mulch. The plants are slow to grow, so if you live in an area that experiences frost, start them indoors in very early spring. Their growth is unaffected by day length, so if you live in a frostless area, they can be planted at any time of the year. Yacon plant care is easy, though the plants get very tall and may need to be staked. After six to seven months, the plants will naturally start to brown and die. This is the time to harvest. Dig around carefully with your hands so as not to damage the roots. Set out the tubers to dry-- they can sit in the sun for as much as two weeks to heighten sweetness. Then, store them in a cool, dry, ventilated place. Set aside the rhizomes for next year’s planting.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our most popular eBook "How to Grow Delicious Tomatoes."
The only child of a horticulturist and an English teacher, Liz Baessler was destined to become a gardening editor. She has been with Gardening Know how since 2015, and a Senior Editor since 2020. She holds a BA in English from Brandeis University and an MA in English from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. After years of gardening in containers and community garden plots, she finally has a backyard of her own, which she is systematically filling with vegetables and flowers.
-
Why It's Time To Raise Ducks For The Garden – Move Over, Chickens!
Others might call you quackers, but if you get some ducks for the garden, you can enjoy a host of plot-friendly benefits. Just follow our expert guide to making the most from these unique creatures msmary
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
5 Biophilic Design Ideas Everyone Should Try For A Happier, Healthier Home
Connect to nature in your home, and experience the life-affirming power of plants, with these simple ideas for embracing biophilic design concepts.
By Melanie Griffiths