Yacon

Smallanthus sonchifolius is a perennial plant notable for its large, edible storage roots. It is a relative of the sunflower with smaller yellow single flowers. The roots have brown skin similar to that of a potato. The flesh is white and sweet to the taste both raw and cooked and is comparable to that of apple and a pear with the crisp texture of celery. Taste and texture remain somewhat the same whether eaten raw or cooked plus it oxidizes at a very slow rate. Roots are said to be very low in carbohydrates. Easy to grow and resistant to many pests and diseases. Consume fresh like a dessert apple or roast or cook in stir fries, soups, stews, and curries.

Yacón, or Peruvian Ground Apple, is one of the so-called ‘lost crops of the Incas’ along with Oca, Mashua, and Ulluco. Native to the foothills of the Andes, Yacón is a perennial in the daisy family closely related to the North American Sunchoke and is grown for its sweet, crisp tubers. Yacón has been recently popularized as a low-calorie, low carbohydrate food for diabetics and dieters alike as it produces natural sweet tasting but indigestible sugars. The tubers can be used much like Jicama and are ready for harvest after the first several frosts when the stems die back to the ground. Our selection produces purple colored tubers in late fall. A perennial, upright and leafy plant, use Yacón in the landscape as you would a sunflower plant to add vertical appeal to tight spaces and seasonal interest. While the plant creates insignificant flowers, the foliage is bold and adds plenty of textural appeal. If you’re growing Yacón for food, you can either replant the crown of the plant after harvesting the tubers, or bring them inside for winter for storage much like many annual bulbs. Cold hardy to USDA zone 8a, or to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Oversized tall fuzzy leaves. Edible tubers. Grown for its foliage. It is a coarse textured, robust perennial herbaceous plant with large leaves and little yellow daisy flowers. The stems are thick, hairy and streaked with purple. It grows best in a slightly moisture-retentive soil with regular watering. Produces delicious roots that are surprisingly sweet and are also very juicy and crisp.