Yacon in my organic fruits garden

Yacon is known as the fruit tasting similar to apple and watermelon. It is crunchy and sweet - called the apple of earth. Originally yacon comes from Andes in Peru, where it is placed for sale together with other fruits, despite growing fully covered with soil. The sweet watermelon taste is hiding under the soil level in tubers, but not only tubers are very valuable. Tea made of leaves is known as prebiotic and antioxidant.



Yacon belongs to the group of edible plants called New World Crops, which were native to North and South America before 1942 and couldn’t be found anywhere else in the world.


I have received 2 pieces of roots with green/brown growing points in February from Patrick @BifurcatedCarrot (thanks Patrick). I planted them immediately in the pots and kept on the windowsill, because yacon can be planted outside after last frost.


This yacón (Smallanthus sonchifolius syn. Polymnia sonchifolia) after the first frost (in about one month) I will dig out and take it to the cellar. Then we will see whether yacon tastes more like watermelon or rather more like apple. Probably it could be eaten already right now, but it is advised to wait until first frost, when tubers become most tasty.

The greatest thing about yacon is that despite it sweetness it contains types of sugar which are less in calories and also heathy for diabetes.
You can slice it, dry and eat it as snack, make syrup and use it as healthy, low calorie sweetener or even candy.

PS. Bee rocks! Doesn't she resemble David Bowie? Just take one closer look - this orange hair....