A Detailed Guide to Yacon Planting Time and Cultivation Techniques
SummaryCultivation environment: suitable for planting in sandy, fertile plots at an altitude of 1000-2300 m with ample sunlight and good drainage. Land preparation and planting: after plowing the soil, dig furrows and form ridges, and plant on the ridge backs. Planting time: mostly planted in spring. Fertilizer and water management: the amount of watering needs to be determined according to local rainfall conditions, and during the growing period nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer can be applied. Later management: the harvest time is around October.
I. Cultivation Environment
1. Yacon is relatively suitable for growing in sandy, fertile plots at an altitude of 1000-2300 m with ample sunlight, good drainage and good air permeability, and the suitable growing temperature is 20-30°C. If the temperature is on the low side, it can be grown in a greenhouse.
2. Because yacon has relatively poor cold resistance, especially at the initial seedling emergence stage, its temperature requirements are very strict. When sowing, the temperature needs to be kept above 15°C.
II. Land Preparation and Planting
Each mu of land can be given 2500 kg of farmyard manure. After plowing the soil, dig furrows and form ridges, and plant on the ridge backs. The spacing between plants should be controlled at about 60 cm, while the row spacing can be controlled at about 1 m. To prevent seedlings from being damaged by underground pests, an appropriate amount of quicklime can be placed in the planting holes in advance.
III. Planting Time
Planting time depends on the region, and most planting is done in spring. If the soil in the shallow layer 5 cm deep is suitable, planting can be done when the temperature is around 14-15. There are many planting methods: stem tubers can be planted directly, or seedlings can be raised and transplanted, or branching can be done in summer, and lateral branches growing underground can also be used for cutting propagation and planting.
IV. Fertilizer and Water Management
1. Yacon is not suitable for growing in damp, shaded environments, so during the rainy season the plants should be drained in time. The amount of watering needs to be determined according to local rainfall conditions. When watering, apply it to the roots of the plants. If the winter temperature is below 5°C, water as little as possible.
2. In spring, mainly some nitrogen fertilizer is used; in summer, mainly some phosphorus fertilizer is applied; and in autumn, potassium fertilizer is used. Generally, it still depends on the growth of the plants.
V. Later Management
1. After planting, when the plants reach a height of 20 cm, pay attention to watering and earthing up. During this period, combine this with weeding work and raise the ridge height to more than 30 cm. If base fertilizer was applied earlier, there is temporarily no need for additional topdressing, because yacon is a green, pollution-free food and pesticides cannot be used during cultivation. Therefore, at every stage of cultivation, pay attention to the growth of the plants. If diseased branches are found, they should be isolated and treated thoroughly.
2. If the planting density is relatively high and the fertility is not poor, when the plants are about 1 m tall, some tiller branches will appear, and these can be pruned appropriately during this period; otherwise, no pruning is needed. The harvest time is around October. When the small yellow flowers begin to wither, digging can begin for harvest.
3. If planting south of the Huaihe River, the crop can be left in the field until digging in March of the following year. But north of the Huaihe River, the temperature is relatively lower, so it needs to be dug out in time and stored in places such as cellars for preservation. If you want to keep seed for planting, you can cut off the harvested fruits with buds, and after the cut surfaces air-dry, soak them in potassium permanganate solution for about 2 minutes.
4. Take them out and place them in moist sand, then keep them in a cool, mild environment, and by the following year they can be planted. Alternatively, in late September, break off the harvested fruits with seed balls, then place them with the buds facing upward and insert them directly into sand. By the following year, when the buds have grown into small seedlings about 4 cm long, they can be planted directly.