Yacon
 

I've been growing Yacon for about 2 years now thanks to Stu. I'm going to harvest some this year so I'm looking at recipes. Please share if you have a good Yacon recipe!

This will be the first thing I make with it. I'll add a little heat to it, probably Habanero. Looks good!

Yacon Pineapple Slaw « The Gardener’s Pantry

Edit Some recipes here!
Yacon recipes « The Gardener’s Pantry

Re: Yacon
 

Use a sweet potato pie recipe.

Re: Yacon
 

Its popular to boil yacon down to a syrup (which you probably already know). Otherwise, I would use it fresh in juice mixes and salads. Try replacing Jicama with Yacon in dishes, should create a tasty difference.

Most of the harvested Yacon for me gets eaten raw like a carrot.

Re: Yacon
 

Yeah I can buy the syrup here locally but I've always used Agave nectar. I'll probably still try it anyway.

For some reason I want to try it with something spicy, like the fresh coconut served with lime and hot sauce down in Mexico. I'll have to experiment.

Re: Yacon
 

I've never personally eaten yacon, but have heard from one person who grows them, he says he loves eating them fresh, sliced thin in a salad ?shrug

-Luke

Re: Yacon
 

They are similar to Jicama or apple in texture but more sweet than Jicama so eating them fresh is pleasant!

Re: Yacon
 

Yum, sounds delish!

-Luke

Re: Yacon
 

Mitchel --- where can I get some of them there Yadacon tubers for propagation?

Found this ---------------

Yacon FOS are completely fermented in the colon by
probiotics (Pedreschi et al., 2003), a group of beneficial
bacteria that forms part of the intestinal microflora. These
bacteria (especially some species of the genus Bifidus
and Lactobacillus) contribute to better gastrointestinal
function and help to alleviate several digestive disorders.
Besides, FOS are recognized as a soluble fiber which
causes several favorable effects during digestion:
• an increase of intestinal peristaltic movements
• a reduction in time of intestinal transit
• an increase in the amount of water retained by the
fecal matter
• an osmotic effect similar to a laxative
These effects can prevent and control constipation (Chen
Other favorable health effects have also been associated
with the fermentation of FOS in the colon. These include:
• strengthening the immune system
• higher absorption of calcium by the body
• reduction of cholesterol level
• inhibition of the production of toxins and other
carcinogenic substances in the colon.

Happy colons everyone!

Re: Yacon
 

Yacon, Jicama,...???
What are U guys eating there, I must be living on some another planet:ha::ha::ha:
:nanadrink:

Re: Yacon
 

Yeah they are a true super food. :08:

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Re: Yacon
 

It's probably just a matter of time until M tries to patent it. Grow it while you can!

Re: Yacon
 

Ante, you gotta get some seeds and grow this stuff! You might find a good market for the tubers over there!

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Re: Yacon
 

A UK site that sells Yacon and OCA. I'd like to try that too.

Vegetable Seeds : Unusual Tubers: Oca, Ulluco etc

Re: Yacon
 

Re: Yacon
 

The only one on ebay and $25. I have a goldmine in my garden! :ha:

Re: Yacon
 

I stock Yacon plants year-round. They are definitely a great food, although the "super food" title is a bit overblown. I mean that if you were to believe marketers, then 90% of all fruits and vegetables are super foods.

Re: Yacon
 

I'll start with these Red Oca! Maybe next year try another color.

Oxalis tuberosa RED oca **RARE and delicious root vegetable** EASY on west coast | eBay

Re: Yacon
 

I am growing Yacon, (5) varieties of Oca, and 1 variety of Ulluco. So far all the plants are doing well, most don't like the dry heat in the summer. I try to put them in micro climates. Nice thing about these crops is they are very adaptable to growing with minimal inputs.

Re: Yacon
 

Thanks for the info. Do you have purple Oca?

Re: Yacon
 

Growing pink, red, and yellow varieties.

Re: Yacon
 

Check the with the plant sellers at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market. One of them carries it seasonally.

Re: Yacon
 

Cool did not know they had plant sellers at the farmers market in Santa Monica. Will now need to head out there and check it out sometime.

Re: Yacon
 

The one at Arizona and 3rd has lots of plants, and Wednesday's market is much bigger than Saturday.

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It's harvest time this week!

Re: Yacon
 

Well just a little late harvesting which created some bursting on a few tubers but quite a nice harvest for a plant grown in a 15 gallon container! The flavor is nice and sweet with a nice crunchy snap and no fiber to speak of. I'm very happy with it!

Thanks for hooking me up with this plant Stu, you rock buddy!

Re: Yacon
 

Next years plants potted up.

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So far every friend and neighbor that has tried it loves it. :)

Re: Yacon
 

momoese,

Same response here, everyone who has tried it has loved it or found it agreeable.

Re: Yacon
 

Mitchel, in your climate, when do you think the ideal harvesting time would be to avoid the bursting of tubers?

PS -- Thanks for the Yacon plant!

Re: Yacon
 

In the right climate it's after the first frost when the plant turns brown and shrivels to nothing, but we usually don't have that so just pick the coldest day and then harvest a week or so after that. That should work.

Oh and you are welcome! Hope it works good for ya!

Re: Yacon
 

Harvested the 2013 Yacon crop today. Not the harvest I was hoping for, but considering the plant spent most of it's life under the canopy of banana plants I can't complain. About 8 pounds of tubers and tons of growing points (not pictured)

Re: Yacon
 

How hardy is the vine?

Re: Yacon
 

It's in the sunflower family, not a vine. It get's knocked down with a light frost but that same frost helps to make the tubers sweeter!

Re: Yacon
 

More info on the Andean Sunroot, polymnia sonchifolia.

Yacon* (Polymnia sonchifolia) potted plant, organic