When to Plant Yacon in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Yacon guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Apr to Jul
- Days to harvest
- about 26 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 60 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.0
Yacon (Peruvian ground apple) is an unusual South American root crop producing large, sweet, crunchy tubers that can be eaten raw like fruit.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant sprouting crown pieces (rhizomes) in the dry season. Lift tubers once the tops die back, about six to seven months later.
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How to Grow Yacon in Tropical Australia
- 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.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- 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 in autumn.
- Good companions
- Sweet Corn, Sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke
- Keep away from
- No known antagonisms
- 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.
Tropical Growing Tips for Yacon
Recommended Varieties
- Standard (limited named varieties available in Australia)
- Any available yacon rhizomes
Key Challenges
- May grow vegetatively for too long without tuberising well
- Waterlogging in wet season
Pro Tips
- Yacon grows vigorously in the tropics but may produce more foliage than tubers
- Planting in the dry season can trigger earlier die-back and tuber maturation
- Raised beds essential for drainage
Pests and problems for Yacon in Tropical
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.
Storing and preserving yacon
How to keep it
- Sun-Curing and Cool Storage. After harvest, sun-dry tubers for 1-2 weeks in a warm, airy spot (out of rain). This converts some FOS to simpler sugars, increasing sweetness. Store in a cool (10-15C), dark place. Do not refrigerate. Cold temperatures damage the texture. Keeps: 2-4 months after curing.
- Refrigerator Storage (short-term). Wrap individual tubers in paper towels inside plastic bags. Store in crisper drawer. Note: refrigeration is not ideal but extends short-term life. Keeps: 2-4 weeks.
- Dehydrating. Peel and slice thinly (3mm). Dip in lemon water to prevent browning. Dehydrate at 55C for 8-12 hours until crisp. Store in airtight containers. Makes sweet, crunchy chips. Keeps: 12 months.
- Freezing. Peel and cut into chunks. Blanch 2 minutes. Ice bath, drain. Freeze on trays then bag. Texture changes when thawed. Best for cooking or smoothies. Keeps: 10-12 months.
- Yacon Syrup. Peel and juice tubers (use a juicer or grate and squeeze through cloth). Simmer juice gently for 4-6 hours until reduced to a thick, dark syrup. Do not boil vigorously. Bottle in sterilised jars. Yacon syrup is a low-calorie, prebiotic sweetener. Keeps: 6-12 months sealed, refrigerated.
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- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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- 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 Yacon
When do you plant yacon in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Yacon in Cairns?
Plant sprouting crown pieces (rhizomes) in the dry season. Lift tubers once the tops die back, about six to seven months later.
How do I know when Yacon are ready to harvest?
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.
What are the best Yacon varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Standard (limited named varieties available in Australia), Any available yacon rhizomes.
What grows well with Yacon?
Good companion plants for Yacon include: Sweet Corn, Sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke.
Are yacon salt tolerant?
Only a little. Yacon 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.