The Garden - Yacon
Yacon. Apparently also know as the They are of South American origin, and I just bought some rhizomes on TradeMe (New Zealands favourite online auction).
(This is the photo of them from TradeMe)
These are REALLY hard to find here. So when I accidently came across them on TradeMe for only $5, I had to buy them! I’ve never eaten one, I’ve never grown them, and the growing season here is not til September/October, BUT I am looking forward to all of it!
From the rhizomes (above) they sprout stalks and leaves and can get to between 5 and 7 feet tall.
(photo off the net)
They also flower and have a nice big sunflower type bloom.
(photo off the net again)
But that’s not the exciting part. Underneath the soil they grow edible tuber roots that you can eat raw, and are sweet and crunchy!
(this one too)
I’ve only really just read up on them even though I knew I wanted them ages ago.
They take up quite a bit of space to according to the gardening sites I’ve been visiting. I might try and grow them in half wine barrels and I don’t know how well they store or if they can be preserved yet……?
