Smallanthus sonchifolius

Yacon

Common names: Inka root, Andean sweet potato

This description was machine-translated.

Description

Yacon originates from the Andes and forms large, juicy-sweet storage tubers that taste pleasantly crisp like a pear when eaten raw. The plant grows to human height and yields an astonishing harvest per stalk, but like the sweet potato it is frost-sensitive.

Care instructions

Propagate the previous year's rhizomes in the house from March and transplant the seedlings into the garden only after the last frost, around mid-May (week 20). Provide space, sun, and even watering, and harvest the tubers in October to November once the foliage has received the first frost; the storage tubers become noticeably sweeter after a few days of storage.

Soil & site

Soil pH

4.0pH 6–78.0

Soil type

loamy, sandy, humus-rich, well-drained

LightFull sun

HardinessFrost-sensitive

Crop rotationComposites

Water needMedium

Feeding

Light feeder

Companion planting

Good neighbors

carrot family (Apiaceae)

Calendula and Tagetes next to carrots keep the carrot fly away with their scent.

For example Carrotcelery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCoriander and 19 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

Bush bean

Rather not

nightshade family (Solanaceae)

Sunflowers release substances into the soil that inhibit potato tuber growth, and they also compete for water and nutrients.

For example PotatoTomatoSweet pepperCocktail tomatoEggplantCape gooseberry and 9 more species in the catalogue

Source: basic crop-rotation rule

Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.

Some of these explanations were machine-translated.

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Yellow Jerusalem artichoke flowers against a blue sky, tall perennials in late summer

Vegetables

Growing Jerusalem Artichoke and Yacon: Two Tubers That Almost Grow Themselves

Jerusalem artichoke grows as if by itself and needs taming rather than tending, while yacon surprises with juicy, sweet tubers from the Andes. Here is how to plant, harvest and store these two low-maintenance potato alternatives.

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