A Detailed Guide to Planting Time and Methods for Jicama

Jicama is also called “liangshu” (cool tuber). The edible part is the enlarged tuberous root, whose skin is thin yet tough, and whose flesh is pure white, tender and crisp, sweet and juicy, with no fibrous residue when eaten, and a slight bean-like flavor. Eaten raw or cooked, it has effects such as promoting saliva and quenching thirst, cooling and reducing heat, relieving alcohol toxicity, and lowering blood pressure. It is widely cultivated in our country. Below, the editor will introduce the planting time and methods for jicama.

I. Planting Time for Jicama

Because jicama has a long growing period, sowing should be done as early as possible. Generally, early-maturing varieties are sown in March, and late-maturing varieties from April to June. It is generally required that the average temperature reaches above 12°C, and sowing should be done on a sunny day.

II. Planting Methods for Jicama

1. Site selection and land preparation

Choose sandy loam soil with a relatively high position, good drainage, and loose, fertile texture for cultivation, and apply sufficient organic fertilizer before planting.

2. Seed soaking and germination promotion

Jicama seeds are hard, and sowing dry seeds results in slow and uneven germination, so germination promotion before sowing is mostly used in production. Before germination promotion, the seeds should be carefully selected, choosing old, plump, and fresh ones as seed. During germination promotion, first soak the seeds for 10-12 hours; after they absorb water and swell, place them in an incubator at 25-28°C to promote germination, take them out and rinse them once each day, and after 4-5 days select the seeds that have already sprouted and sow them, finishing sowing in 2-3 batches.

3. Sowing methods

Yam bean is generally sown directly, and sowing methods can be divided into two types: ground-creeping cultivation and trellis cultivation. For ground-creeping cultivation, the row spacing is generally 50 cm, the plant spacing 33 cm, and 1-2 seeds are sown per hole; about 3,000 plants can be grown per mu, and the seed rate is about 2 kg; for trellis cultivation, deep furrows and high beds are used, with a bed height of 20-25 cm, a furrow width of 50 cm, and a bed surface of 90 cm; 2 rows are planted per bed, with a row spacing of 50 cm and a plant spacing of 33 cm; 3-4 seeds are placed per hole, and the seed rate per mu is 2.5-3 kg. After sowing, cover with soil 2-3 cm deep, and seedlings will emerge 15 days after sowing.

4. Thinning and replanting

Fifteen days after sowing, the seedlings emerge. After the first pair of basal leaves appears, thin and replant the seedlings, leaving 1-2 plants per hole, and finally keeping 1 plant per hole. Replanting should be timely, and seedlings should be transplanted with a soil ball on cloudy days.

5. Cultivation and weeding

When the seedlings are 7 cm high and before the side vines spread over the ground, promptly carry out cultivation and weeding. Cultivation should be shallow, and roots must not be damaged. During cultivation, earth can be hilled up 4-7 cm to prevent the fleshy roots from being exposed outside the soil, turning green in color, and deteriorating in quality, but be careful not to hill up too deeply, as the tuberous roots easily become elongated.

6. Water and fertilizer management: During the seedling stage, loosen the soil and apply topdressing in time. Each time the soil is loosened, apply human manure once to promote early growth. In early to mid-June, when the tuberous roots enlarge, apply a heavy topdressing once. If drought occurs, pay attention to watering; if heavy rain occurs, drain water in time. If waterlogging appears in the field, it easily causes the yam bean skin to turn brown or the tuberous roots to rot, affecting yield and quality.

7. Flower removal and pinching

Yam bean begins to produce inflorescences at the 5th-6th node, and afterward, as the vine extends, inflorescences are produced at almost every node. If allowed to bloom freely, it will form numerous pods and waste nutrients, and the roots will not easily become thick. Therefore, except for those intended for seed production, as soon as an inflorescence appears, it should be cut off immediately while keeping the leaves for photosynthesis, and this is generally done in 2-3 rounds; when the main vine has 18-24 leaves, pinch off the growing tip. After pinching, the vine stops growing.

8. Pruning and trellising

When the yam bean seedlings grow to 30 cm high, insert 1 small bamboo or cotton stalk per hole, set up a triangular frame, and tie adjacent yam bean seedlings together to let the vines climb onto the frame.

Finally, also pay attention to timely harvesting. Early-maturing liangshu can generally be dug up and eaten in May and June, while mid-maturing ones are generally in August and September.