When to Plant Jicama in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Jicama guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Aug to Oct
- Days to harvest
- about 39 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 20 cm apart
- Soil pH
- Not given by the sources opened.
Jicama (yam bean) is a climbing legume, 2 to 5 m, grown for its crisp sweet tuber (Daleys).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug S
- Sep D
- Oct T/D
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Arid / Semi-Arid zone right now, Jicama included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Jicama in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Rich, free draining soil; roots rot in wet ground (Rob Pyne).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- Not given by the sources opened.
- Sunlight
- Full sun, about 9 hours (Rob Pyne).
- Spacing
- 20cm apart, 90cm between rows
- Watering
- Steady water, never waterlogged (Rob Pyne).
- Grow before it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
- Grow after it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Give the bed 3 turns before root crops go back in. Roots fork and go leafy in fresh manure, so they take the bed after the heavy feeders have used it.
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Jicama
Recommended Varieties
- Yam bean
Key Challenges
- Overwatering rot
- Heat
Pro Tips
- Mulch, water carefully
Pests and problems for Jicama in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Jicama
When ready: Vines yellow after 9 months; small tubers from 4 months (Green Harvest, Rob Pyne).
How to harvest: Dig carefully before frost (Rob Pyne).
Storing and preserving jicama
How to keep it
- Fresh storage. Keep whole tubers cool and dry; cut pieces in water in the fridge. Keeps: 2-4 weeks.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Jicama
When do you plant jicama in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): all year
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Aug to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jul to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Aug to Sep, Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Aug to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Aug to Nov
Can you grow jicama all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Aug to Oct. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Jicama in Alice Springs?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Sow direct in September and October, or start seed in August and plant out in October, with a trellis, mulch and steady water; roots rot if overwatered (Rob Pyne). No arid source; months derived.
What soil temperature do Jicama need?
Jicama germinate best when soil temperature is between 21°C and 29°C.
How do I know when Jicama are ready to harvest?
Vines yellow after 9 months; small tubers from 4 months (Green Harvest, Rob Pyne).
What are the best Jicama varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Yam bean.
Are jicama salt tolerant?
Only a little. Jicama are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.