When to Plant Yacon in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Sow October to November. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is October.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Yacon guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Yacon

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Yacon (Peruvian ground apple) is an unusual South American root crop producing large, sweet, crunchy tubers that can be eaten raw like fruit. It stores energy as fructooligosaccharides (FOS) rather than starch, making it very low calorie and prebiotic. The plant grows like a sunflower (1.5-2m tall), is virtually pest-free, and produces prolifically. Propagated from rhizomes, not seed.

Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - - D D -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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How to Grow Yacon in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Very marginal. Start indoors September. Plant out late November. Growing season may be too short for good tuber formation.

Soil
Rich, friable, well-drained soil. Grows in a wide range of soils but crops best in deep, fertile loam with plenty of organic matter. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
pH Range
5.5-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun to light shade. Tolerates some shade but yields best in full sun.
Spacing
60cm apart, 90cm between rows
Watering
Water regularly during establishment and dry periods. Yacon is surprisingly drought-tolerant once established but yields more with consistent moisture. Reduce watering after the top growth dies back i

Companion plants: Sunflower, Corn, Jerusalem Artichoke

Avoid planting near: No known antagonisms

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Yacon

Recommended Varieties

  • Standard yacon (if attempting)

Key Challenges

  • Short frost-free season
  • Insufficient warmth for full development
  • Early autumn frosts kill foliage before tubers mature

Pro Tips

  • Experimental at best in cold highland areas
  • Greenhouse growing is the most reliable approach
  • Large pots or containers that can be moved indoors for frost protection

Harvesting Yacon

When ready: Top growth withers and dies back naturally (triggered by shorter days and cooler temperatures). DO NOT harvest early. Tubers continue to sweeten as the plant dies back. Wait until ALL foliage is completely dead. This typically takes 6-7 months from planting.

How to harvest: Cut dead stalks to ground level. Use a garden fork inserted 30-40cm from the base. Lift the entire clump carefully. Separate the two types of underground growth: (1) REDDISH RHIZOMES at the crown base, save for replanting; (2) LARGE BROWN TUBERS below. These are for eating. Handle tubers gently as skin is thin. Sun-dry tubers for a few days to sweeten further.

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this September: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

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Common Questions About Yacon

When do you plant yacon in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does yacon grow all year round in Canberra?

No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Oct to Nov. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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 Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.