This fruit grows from a seed ball - just toss it in a flowerpot and it thrives, a single plant can yield 20 jin, and it is a nemesis of high blood pressure
Most of the fruits we usually see grow above ground, but this fruit is different - it is buried deep underground. Its name is yacon (Snow Lotus Fruit), also known as "yacón," which means "divine fruit."
The yacon looks like a sweet potato on the outside and generally grows on sunny high mountains. It originated in the Andes of South America, but it is now widely cultivated in China as well. It is very easy to grow, and a single high-yielding plant can produce more than 20 jin.
Although the yacon dug out of the ground may look unremarkable, once its skin is peeled off, you can see crystal-clear flesh. It can be eaten raw directly. The fruit is crisp, sweet, delicious and juicy, and it is also a very popular fruit!
Besides being tasty, the yacon is also highly nutritious. It is rich in protein, alginate, minerals and more, and has health benefits such as clearing heat and detoxifying, strengthening the stomach and regulating the intestines, and softening blood vessels. Moreover, people with high blood pressure should eat this fruit, as it has the effect of lowering blood pressure.
The yacon is a root tuber crop. Its above-ground part consists of stems, leaves and flowers, with a plant height of about 2 m. The leaves are heart-shaped. Around October, 1 to 3 lovely sunflowers bloom at the stem tips, resembling small sunflowers, while the seed balls and fruits are underground.
The yacon reproduces asexually, so its fruit cannot sprout and grow if thrown into a flowerpot. It must be planted using its seed balls to survive and grow.
For growing yacon, besides planting it in the ground, growing it in pots is also a good choice. Bury the seed ball in a flowerpot and it can grow.
Care tips for potted yacon
The yacon is especially suited to sandy soil, and also likes sunlight and moist soil. Its optimum growing temperature is 20 to 30°C. It is not cold-tolerant, and basically goes dormant below 5°C. When exposed to frost, its stems easily wither and die.
The yacon is a long-day plant. Under long-day conditions, its growth and flowering are promoted. Apart from appropriate shading in summer, the yacon can be grown in full sun during the other three seasons.
During the growing season, follow the principle of watering thoroughly only after the soil has dried out. When watering, it is best not to pour water on the leaves. Apart from situations such as root rot, potted yacon generally does not need repotting!