When to Plant Jicama in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
That soil figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 6:55 this morning, not a model.
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Jicama guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Aug to Nov
- 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 Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug S
- Sep S/D
- Oct T/D
- Nov T/D
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Jicama in Subtropical 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.
Subtropical Growing Tips for Jicama
Recommended Varieties
- Yam bean (Daleys, Green Harvest)
Key Challenges
- Season length
Pro Tips
- Sow as soon as soil warms
Pests and problems for Jicama in Subtropical
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 Brisbane?
No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Aug to Nov. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Jicama in Brisbane?
Sow direct September to November once the soil warms (Green Harvest), or start seed in August and September with warmth and plant out in October and November. Tubers need about 9 frost-free months (Green Harvest); Daleys lists it as subtropical with harvest July to September. Tray and transplant months derived from the direct sowing advice.
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 Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Yam bean (Daleys, Green Harvest).
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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.