When to Plant Yacon in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Plant October to November. Right now in October you can plant.

Planting window
Grow from crowns, not seed. Plant out after the last frost and dig the tubers once frost blackens the tops. In cold, wet areas store crowns...
Days to harvest
about 26 weeks
Sunlight
Full sun to light shade. Tolerates some shade but yields best in full sun.
Water needs
Water regularly during establishment and dry periods. Yacon is surprisingly...
Spacing
60cm apart, 90cm between rows
Soil pH
5.5-7.0

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

This Yacon guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra 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.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Best Planting Window for Cool Temperate

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

P = Planting window

Grow from crowns, not seed. Plant out after the last frost and dig the tubers once frost blackens the tops. In cold, wet areas store crowns in damp sand over winter.

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This month in Cool Temperate

In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.

The full twelve months are on the Cool Temperate zone page.

How to Grow Yacon in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Grow from crowns, not seed. Plant out after the last frost and dig the tubers once frost blackens the tops. In cold, wet areas store crowns in damp sand over winter.

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...

Companion plants: Sunflower, Corn, Jerusalem Artichoke

Avoid planting near: No known antagonisms

Grow before, grow after

Yacon belongs with the root crops, the roots and alliums turn of a four turn bed rotation.

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.

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Yacon

Recommended Varieties

  • Standard yacon

Key Challenges

  • Marginal growing season
  • Late spring and early autumn frosts
  • May not reach full maturity

Pro Tips

  • Achievable in Melbourne but yields will be lower than warmer zones
  • Start indoors as early as August to maximise the growing season
  • Plant in the warmest microclimate available (north-facing, sheltered)

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.

Common Yacon Pests in Cool Temperate Zones

Insect Damage, risk: LOW (score: 36/100)

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Where to next

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this October: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Rutabaga (Swede) and Asparagus Pea (Winged Bean).

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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:

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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.