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Post by billw on Mar 23, 2013 1:58:43 GMT -5
Do you get a lot of rain? The ground rarely freezes to any significant depth here, but we get a heck of a lot of rain. Well drained soil doesn't mean much when the water just keeps dumping out of the sky. I tried Yacon three years running and it died every winter. Looks like it just rotted. If I plant it in spring, it will grow, make tubers, and then die over the winter whether I harvest the storage tubers or just leave it alone in the ground. I tried storing tubers in sand over the winter and they rotted. Then, I gave up. Sorry, that probably doesn't inspire.  |
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Post by richardw on Mar 23, 2013 4:09:27 GMT -5
In the end most did come up but they were very very slow to do so and even then they only got about 1m tall,there's been a discussion on a NZ garden forum about why some many of us on there have had such a poor season,the idea that maybe they don't like too much heat as we have had one of the warmest summers for many years here. Are they a cool weather plant as last summer was cloudy and cool and yet i had 2m tall yacon. |
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Post by richardw on Mar 23, 2013 4:22:54 GMT -5
Do you get a lot of rain? The ground rarely freezes to any significant depth here, but we get a heck of a lot of rain. Well drained soil doesn't mean much when the water just keeps dumping out of the sky. I tried Yacon three years running and it died every winter. Looks like it just rotted. If I plant it in spring, it will grow, make tubers, and then die over the winter whether I harvest the storage tubers or just leave it alone in the ground. I tried storing tubers in sand over the winter and they rotted. Then, I gave up. Sorry, that probably doesn't inspire. Winter is our wetter season about 60% of the years rainfall falls during that period, so its not what you would call a wet climate though with between 500 to 700mm per year and for freezing of the ground,the deepest frosts would get would be about 20mm at the most and thats because daytime temps always get about freezing when the weather is clear with night time frosts. I'll leave them again in the ground over winter and see how they come away in spring,hopefully they regrow better than they did this past spring. At least i know they dont root in the ground for me |
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Post by davida on Mar 23, 2013 14:26:47 GMT -5
the idea that maybe they don't like too much heat as we have had one of the warmest summers for many years here. Are they a cool weather plant as last summer was cloudy and cool and yet i had 2m tall yacon. Our experience with yacon was that it tolerated 100F days without wind and stayed healthy. Then we had a week of 114F to 117F with 20 to 30 mph winds and it survived but never regained its strength to make tubulars. We also learned during this time that yacon does not like a heavy mulch. Therefore, I am wondering if some shade and a wind break may be enough to get it past the periods of extreme heat where it can produce tubulars in the cooler fall weather. Yacon does like cloudy and cool weather with a long growing season but it should be possible to adapt to other conditions. Also, the first set of yacon crowns that we ordered arrived in beautiful condition but quickly began to rot. I quick check of the weather during travel showed that they were in freezing temperatures during shipment. The second set of crowns did not experience freezing conditions and stored well. |
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Post by khoomeizhi on Mar 23, 2013 16:20:14 GMT -5
this will be my 5th year growing yacon. my experience is that yes, they like some shade in times of drought/lots of heat. i always dig everything in the fall and store until spring, as i have much more control over moisture and temperature levels. never had any rot on me. my experience with mulch is that they like it quite a bit, just not up next to the stems. i do a layered green/brown/green mulch (with fresh comfrey preferred for the green, but using freshly cut weeds mostly, and last year's partly-broken-down fall leaves for brown), in many layers. the yacon seem to like the moisture-retention in drier times, and the trickle of nutrients as the composting happens, too.
have experienced some droughty times with them, but no hundred-and-teens. eek.
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Post by richardw on Mar 23, 2013 16:43:05 GMT -5
We didnt get that level of heat davida,the temps we had were up to 38C - 100F and with no wind,ive got mine in a reasonably sandy soil too so drainage isn't a problem.
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Post by galina on Mar 23, 2013 16:43:09 GMT -5
Ian, super site and your experience is much appreciated. It felt like you were 'holding my hand' through my first year of growing yacon with your excellent advice on your blog. Really 'chuffed' (translates as 'delighted' for non Brits) that they have come through winter and are resprouting. On to a better second yea :)r
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Post by davida on Mar 24, 2013 12:59:44 GMT -5
this will be my 5th year growing yacon. my experience is that yes, they like some shade in times of drought/lots of heat. i always dig everything in the fall and store until spring, as i have much more control over moisture and temperature levels. never had any rot on me. my experience with mulch is that they like it quite a bit, just not up next to the stems. i do a layered green/brown/green mulch (with fresh comfrey preferred for the green, but using freshly cut weeds mostly, and last year's partly-broken-down fall leaves for brown), in many layers. the yacon seem to like the moisture-retention in drier times, and the trickle of nutrients as the composting happens, too. have experienced some droughty times with them, but no hundred-and-teens. eek. Thank you for this information. I panicked with the extreme heat and wind and mulched with an extra thick cover of dried leaves and watered frequently. After your post and thinking about it, anything with a crown seems to like the crown uncovered. The thick leaves around the stem would not let the crown "breathe" and rotting commenced. Your layering system, using many layers, and not covering the crown helps alot. I would like to grow alot of yacon in the future because Dr. Alan Kapuler makes molasses from the yacon. It should make an excellent natural sweetener. |
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Post by oxbowfarm on Jun 24, 2013 5:37:40 GMT -5
I've spent the last hour reading Ian's blog. What an awesome resource on Andean root vegetables! "Fiorella" yacon looks very interesting, does anyone have it on this side of the pond? |
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