Growing Yacon

This year, I am trying my hand at growing another crop of Yacon (Polymnia Sonchifolia).  I purchased 4 small plants from Daley's Fruit Tree's and planted them out into one of my raised garden beds at the end of December last year.  The yacon plants grow to about 1 and a half metres in height with quite large leaves.

Clusters of lovely daisy-like yellow flowers came on the plants in early May and soon the tops of the plant will start to wither and die back over Winter.

Once the plant has died back to just some stalks it can be harvested by lifting up the "root ball" with a large fork. This must be done carefully to avoid damage to the tubers.  After washing away the soil from the root ball the rhizomes need to be separated from the tubers. Tubers last better if  they are left in the sun for two days to toughen up the skin before storing.

THE FOLLOWING VIDEO SHOWS THE LIFE OF YACON FROM PLANTING TO HARVEST

After harvesting the rhizomes store best in a cool dark place in a pot covered with sand or sawdust.  This will stop them drying out until they are ready to plant out again next Spring when the soil warms up again.

Here's hoping that my harvest will be a bountiful one........