Growing Yacon, also Sunroot

Smallanthus sonchifolius : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                    P P

(Best months for growing Yacon in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Plant tubers
  • 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

Your comments and tips

08 Oct 19, Rhys (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Jill Any chance you have a few bulblets still available. Thanks.
20 Sep 19, susie barr (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Please can I have some bulbs
28 Jul 19, Jill (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Love to collect some bulblets if you have any left.
20 Mar 19, Elaine Brown (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
My Yarcons have yet to flower ? when should they flower
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.
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.
11 May 18, Minsoo (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi I live in tauranga. Where can I get the seed. I would like to plant in my garden. Thanks
21 May 18, Dawn (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi there. I will be harvesting my yacon in the next month or two and can send you some then for you to plant in spring...paying it forward as I was given 3 two seasons ago, planted 12 and gave away 16 last season, so I expect to have wayyyyy too much this harvest!!!
02 Jul 18, carol o'shea (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hello Dawn. I am in Tauranga, was given a Yacon plant last spring. It is beginning to die down. can you give me any advice as to what I do with it now. Do I dig the whole plant up? how do I start another plant for the coming spring? Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated. Regards Carol
26 Jul 18, Faye (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Dig the whole plant up. Eat the large light brown tubers (look like dahlia tubers) . Where the stem meets the ground should be a different thickened part more reddish keep this it will get shoots in spring and is the bit to plant when danger of frosts is past.
Showing 41 - 50 of 55 comments

You can buy the tubers here. https://www.koanga.org.nz/gardens/product/yacon/

- Liz

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