Growing Yacon in Australia: The Complete Guide
Yacon is a moderate root vegetable to grow, needing full sun with regular watering.
We get asked about yacon often enough that it's worth setting out the full picture here, beyond what fits on our printable card.
Sweet, crunchy storage roots
Yacon produces two kinds of underground growth: small rhizomes for replanting near the crown, and large, sweet storage roots further out — dig carefully to find both.
Getting Yacon Into the Ground
Method — plant divisions/rhizomes with a growing bud. Soil — rich, well-drained, high organic matter. Timing — plant in spring once frost risk has passed.
Day-to-Day Care
Worth paying attention to:
- Water regularly through the growing season.
- Feed with compost mid-season.
- Stake tall plants in windy spots — they can reach 2m.
- Leave in the ground until after the first light frost for best sweetness.
Problems to Watch For
Keep these points in mind:
- Slugs and snails — on new shoots; hand-pick.
- Frost damage to foliage — normal, harvest roots after this happens.
- Poor root size — nutrient-poor soil; feed generously.
- Few other pest issues — a relatively trouble-free crop.
Harvest and Storage
Signs — after the first frost blackens the foliage. Method — dig carefully — roots grow large and can extend some distance from the crown. Curing — leave roots in the sun for a few days after digging to boost sweetness. Storage — cool, dark spot; keeps for months, sweetening further in storage.
For the condensed, printable version of everything above, head to the main yacon guide page.