Yacon
Smallanthus sonchifolius · Asteraceae
📷 Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Yacon is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Smallanthus sonchifolius
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Adult size
- Up to 180 cm in height
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- July to September, yellow flowers
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Tender, grown as annual or with tuber overwintering
- Origin
- Andes (Peru, Colombia)
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Smallanthus (earthen pear/yacon): harvest tubers in November before the frost, store dry and cool (5°C) like potatoes. Plant in April.
The common mistake
Leaving tubers in the ground over winter: in the soil, they freeze and rot, unless your region stays frost-free.
The pro's trick
Pinch the stems in June when they reach 40 cm: it encourages branching and improves tuber yield.
Care
Exposure
Yacon appreciates full sun exposure to optimize growth and tuber production. A warm, bright location is ideal. Avoid overly shaded areas that would slow its development.
Watering
Keep the soil regularly moist without excess during the growing season. Water needs are moderate: water when the soil surface begins to dry out. Gradually reduce watering in autumn to encourage tuber dormancy.
Soil
Choose well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Yacon prefers neutral to slightly acidic pH. Adding compost at planting time improves soil structure and yields.
Fertilizing
Balanced fertilizer in spring supports growth. Use potassium-rich fertilizer from summer onwards to develop tubers. Avoid excess nitrogen, which stimulates foliage at the expense of the harvest.
Pruning and training
No strict pruning is necessary, but you can remove spent flowers to direct energy toward tubers. At season's end, let the foliage yellow naturally before harvesting tubers in autumn.
Diseases and pests
Yacon is generally robust. Monitor excess moisture which could promote tuber rot. Aphids and whiteflies may occasionally affect it; good air circulation and regular hygiene prevent them.
Did you know?
Cultivated for thousands of years by Andean peoples, yacon (yacón in Quechua) was venerated by the Incas for its sweet, juicy flesh. Its European name reflects its dual nature: underground tuber (like potato) with a sweet flavor reminiscent of pear. Long confidential in Europe, it is rediscovering enthusiasm for its interesting nutritional profile and use in creative cooking.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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- SneezewortAchillea ptarmica
- Canadian goldenrodSolidago canadensis
- WormwoodArtemisia absinthium
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.