I’ve not grown it before…..I wait for it to flower (looking like soon), then for the frost to kill off the tops, then I dig it up, use the main root and replant the side roots for next year? I grow it in a pot – I’ve been warned about weediness.

And I know some of you grow yacon too…..mine hasn’t flowered yet, but I gather the procedure is rather similar….wait for flower, wait for dieback for Winter, harvest and store.

?

Happy Potter grows yacon, or she used to…

I know someone (or possibly more) grow it.

buffy said:

I know someone (or possibly more) grow it.

I think Longy grew it as well…

buffy said:

I’ve not grown it before…..I wait for it to flower (looking like soon), then for the frost to kill off the tops, then I dig it up, use the main root and replant the side roots for next year? I grow it in a pot – I’ve been warned about weediness.

I have grown it in the past – well – it grew – not sure if I did much. a total drought will kill it so it needs weekly water.
when you look at the roots they should be as thick as a finger (so it’s worthwhile peeling them). if they are only as thick as string it will need a bit more fertiliser and water next year.

justin said:

buffy said:

I’ve not grown it before…..I wait for it to flower (looking like soon), then for the frost to kill off the tops, then I dig it up, use the main root and replant the side roots for next year? I grow it in a pot – I’ve been warned about weediness.

I have grown it in the past – well – it grew – not sure if I did much. a total drought will kill it so it needs weekly water.
when you look at the roots they should be as thick as a finger (so it’s worthwhile peeling them). if they are only as thick as string it will need a bit more fertiliser and water next year.

in other words – don’t worry too much about harvesting them after the frost
by far the hardest part is getting a decent sized root whilst not spoiling them with kindness.
the flavour comes mainly from treating them tough – but not too tough.

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter grows yacon, or she used to…

Hehe. I have 6 clumps going. What I’ve learnt..
Water once a week. It may or may not flower depending on several things, full sun, temp, moisture and aspect. It doesn’t seem to matter if it flowers or not, tubers form anyway. The top smaller red tubers are for replanting, the deeper bigger brown tubers for eating.
And boy do we ever love them here.

It’s best to leave the clump untouched for it’s first winter when it will all but disappear, but it can be harvested. Just that if you leave it until the second winter the tubers will be tenfold in number, and bigger. Hence the number of clumps I have in. The tubers break easily, easier than carrots, so great care is needed to get them out. Don’t pull, unearth the whole tuber instead. I plan to plant one in a huge 70 cm pot for next planting so I can just tip it over. If I can.

Thanks. Mine are in big pots. There is one with ordinary and one with variegated. I was thinking I’ll just tip the pots into the wheelbarrow (one at a time) and ferret out the roots. I can then mix the old soil with some new stuff and repot the bits pretty much straight back into the pots.

buffy said:

I know someone (or possibly more) grow it.

I do.

Happy Potter said:

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter grows yacon, or she used to…

Hehe. I have 6 clumps going. What I’ve learnt..
Water once a week. It may or may not flower depending on several things, full sun, temp, moisture and aspect. It doesn’t seem to matter if it flowers or not, tubers form anyway. The top smaller red tubers are for replanting, the deeper bigger brown tubers for eating.
And boy do we ever love them here.

It’s best to leave the clump untouched for it’s first winter when it will all but disappear, but it can be harvested. Just that if you leave it until the second winter the tubers will be tenfold in number, and bigger. Hence the number of clumps I have in. The tubers break easily, easier than carrots, so great care is needed to get them out. Don’t pull, unearth the whole tuber instead. I plan to plant one in a huge 70 cm pot for next planting so I can just tip it over. If I can.

We had two clumps on the go but lost one from all the inches of rain we got earlier in the year. the second is looking as it should.

buffy said:

Thanks. Mine are in big pots. There is one with ordinary and one with variegated. I was thinking I’ll just tip the pots into the wheelbarrow (one at a time) and ferret out the roots. I can then mix the old soil with some new stuff and repot the bits pretty much straight back into the pots.

that’s what I would do.
bear in mind it’s been a lousy year and normally things would be twice the size.

Hello! Joining the thread late as usual…

A neighbour and I were discussing the growing of horseradish just the other day, so this thread is very timely, thank you :)
Where would we start? Seeds? ‘Tubers’? And where would we find them to purchase – bare in mind we’re in Tasmania, so we can’t get anything posted from the mainland.
I’ll check back later – way too lovely a day to be inside today :D