Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with our yacon root live plant set. Also widely recognized as ground apple plant or Pear of the Earth, these fascinating plants (scientifically known as Smallanthus sonchifolius) are renowned for their uniquely sweet and crisp edible tubers. This offering includes a set of two live starter plants, each standing approximately 4-6 inches tall, providing a robust foundation for your future harvest. Yacon is a perennial daisy species traditionally grown in the Andes for its crunchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots. These roots are not only delicious but also known for their prebiotic properties due to their high content of fructooligosaccharides (FOS).

Our yacon root live plant starters are shipped bare root, ensuring they arrive ready for immediate planting in your garden. They are an excellent choice for gardeners looking to grow something distinctive and beneficial, offering a fresh, juicy alternative to other root vegetables. Once established, these plants will develop into lush foliage above ground, while beneath the surface, they will begin to produce the sought-after tubers, ready for harvest in just a few months. Discover the joy of growing your own superfood with these vibrant and healthy starter plants.

Key Benefits

Growing your own yacon root live plant provides numerous advantages, from culinary delight to health benefits and gardening satisfaction. These plants are a fantastic addition to any edible garden:

• Delicious & Healthy Tubers: Enjoy crisp, sweet, and juicy tubers that can be eaten raw, cooked, or juiced. They are a healthy alternative to potatoes, rich in prebiotics that support gut health.
• Unique Culinary Ingredient: The tubers of the ground apple plant offer a unique flavor profile, often described as a cross between apple and pear, making them versatile for salads, stir-fries, and desserts.
• Easy to Grow: Despite their exotic nature, yacon plants are relatively easy to cultivate, making them suitable for both experienced and novice gardeners. With proper care, they produce abundant harvests.
• High Yield Potential: A single Smallanthus sonchifolius plant can produce a significant amount of tubers, providing a generous harvest for your kitchen or to share with friends and family.
• Ornamental Value: Beyond their edible roots, yacon plants feature attractive, large green leaves and small, daisy-like flowers, adding a tropical touch to your garden landscape.
• Prebiotic Powerhouse: The tubers are high in FOS (fructooligosaccharides), which are known to promote beneficial gut bacteria, contributing to overall digestive wellness.
• Sustainable Food Source: As a perennial, yacon can be a sustainable addition to your garden, with proper care allowing for continued harvests in warmer climates or by overwintering the rhizomes.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your yacon root live plant is straightforward, ensuring a bountiful harvest of delicious tubers. These plants thrive in conditions that mimic their native Andean environment. For optimal growth, choose a location that receives full sun to partial sun, ideally 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. While they appreciate warmth, protection from intense afternoon sun in very hot climates can prevent leaf scorch. The ideal soil for yacon is loose, well-draining, and rich in organic matter. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or peat moss to improve drainage and aeration, which is crucial for tuber development.

Consistent moisture is key for a healthy ground apple plant. Keep the soil evenly moist but avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot. During dry spells, especially as the tubers begin to form, regular watering is essential. Yacon plants prefer warm climates and are sensitive to frost. If you live in an area with cold winters, you’ll need to protect them from frost or harvest the tubers before the first freeze. In USDA zones 9-11, they can often be grown as perennials, but in colder zones, they are typically grown as annuals, with tubers harvested and stored over winter.

Fertilize your Smallanthus sonchifolius with a balanced or organic fertilizer to support vigorous growth and tuber development. A fertilizer higher in potassium can be beneficial as the plants mature. Apply fertilizer according to package directions, typically every 4-6 weeks during the growing season. Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids or slugs, and address them promptly with organic pest control methods if necessary. Harvesting typically occurs in about 5-7 months when the foliage begins to yellow and die back, indicating the tubers underground are fully developed and ready to be dug up.

Size & Details

This offering includes a set of two live yacon root live plant starter plants. Each plant measures approximately 4-6 inches in height upon arrival, providing a strong foundation for rapid growth. They are shipped bare root, meaning they arrive without soil or a pot, which helps reduce transplant shock and ensures a healthier start in your garden. These small starter plants are designed to establish quickly once planted.

Once mature, the ground apple plant can reach heights of 5-7 feet with a similar spread, forming a lush, bushy presence in your garden. The edible tubers develop underground over a period of 5-7 months, typically reaching a harvestable size in late autumn. The rhizomes, from which new plants sprout, can be dug up and stored over winter in colder climates to be replanted the following spring, ensuring a continuous supply of this delightful crop. Expect robust growth and a generous yield from these healthy starters.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this yacon root live plant get? A: A: Once mature, the yacon plant can grow quite large, typically reaching heights of 5-7 feet (1.5-2 meters) with a similar spread, creating a substantial bushy presence in your garden.
• Q: What condition will the plants arrive in? A: Your ground apple plant starters will arrive as bare root plants, meaning they are shipped without soil or a pot. This method minimizes stress during transit and prepares them for immediate planting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While yacon is primarily an outdoor plant, it can be grown in large containers on patios or in greenhouses in colder climates. It thrives outdoors in full to partial sun.
• Q: How much sunlight does the Smallanthus sonchifolius need? A: Yacon plants prefer full sun to partial sun, ideally receiving 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. In very hot climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, yacon is considered relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels. Its main requirements are consistent moisture, well-draining soil, and adequate sunlight.
• Q: How long until I can harvest the tubers? A: The edible tubers are typically ready for harvest in about 5-7 months after planting, usually in late autumn when the plant’s foliage starts to yellow and die back.
• Q: What’s the best soil type for yacon plant care? A: Yacon thrives in loose, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Amending your soil with compost will significantly improve growth and tuber production.
• Q: Can I grow yacon in a pot? A: Yes, yacon can be grown successfully in large containers, at least 15-20 gallons in size, to allow sufficient space for tuber development. Ensure the pot has good drainage.
• Q: Will these plants survive winter? A: In USDA zones 9-11, yacon can be perennial. In colder zones, the tubers or rhizomes must be dug up before the first frost and stored indoors over winter to be replanted in spring.
• Q: What are the main benefits of growing edible tuber plants like yacon? A: The main benefits include harvesting delicious, crisp, and sweet tubers that are rich in prebiotics, offering a unique culinary ingredient, and providing a sustainable food source.