Also known as the 'Earth Apple' this is one of the ancient crops of the Inca's. This relative of the sunflower is popular to the people of Columbia, Ecuador and Argentina.
The plant produces large tubers similar in appearance to sweet potatoes, but they have a much sweeter taste and crunchy flesh.
The tubers can be eaten raw as a refreshing treat on their own, finely sliced and mixed into salads,boiled or baked, fried as chips or prepared as a pickle. 
There is also commerical interest as a flavouring for yoghurt. They are sweet, juicy and almost calorie free. The main stem can also be used like celery. The texture and flavour have been described as a cross between a fresh apple and watermelon.
The plants are vigorous, herbaceous, perennial and extremely hardy tolerating hot summers, drought and poor soils. The foliage of the plant dies back in the winter after flowering at which time the tubers are harvested carefully to avoid damage to the tubers. They tend to continue sweetening if left in a cool dry and dark place for a week or two before consumption. The offsets are then replanted for the next season.
| Height | Frost tol. | Pollination req'd | Evergreen/Deciduous | Harvest period |
| 1 | High | No | Deciduous | Winter |
We welcome your Tips on Yacon - Apple of the Earth. Share Your Tip.
Well worth growing. Taste is exactly as described. Delicious sliced, oiled and roasted. Grate raw for salads, steams well. Give them good soil but do not overfertilise unless you want lots of leaves and not tubers. | David White - Newcastle, NSW 30-May-2006
Plant as many as possible its like a treaure hiding on the ground (tubers) its a good investment the price is soaring high | German Dubouzet Briones - Baguio City, PHL. 20-Jun-2006
Yacon is very much appreciated when dried and could prolong shelf-life to 6months to one year | Jp - Manila, NY 07-May-2007
Good for everything,medicinal and cooking | Irma - Beaverton, MI 16-Mar-2008
I have been exploring yakon,from juice and the meat of the fruit,from side dish to dessert,a miracle tubers that is helpful medicinally and food subtitutes,thanks GOD for creating this plant,i call this dollar tuber. | Irma Wycoco Koon - Flock Rd. Beaverton, MI 27-Mar-2008
Yacon can lower sugar levels and clean our blood. | Belen Magulta - Kidapawan City, COT 26-Apr-2008
Just dug up my yacon, pleanty of tubers and slips for next year interesting eating just raw slighly sweet so I think kids would love could be added to any vegetables for kids | Jan Hurle - Tewantin, QLD 24-Jun-2008
Just tried mine again after 3 months of storage- much sweeter than when first harvested. Easily grown in Melbourne. | S.heinze - Melbourne, VIC 14-Sep-2008
Just started growing in my back yard. Seems it grows happily ,will harvest it after winter next year | Edenton - Brisbane, QLD 26-Oct-2008
A friend just harvested some Yacon and it has a distinct turpentine odor--not the sweet and crispy flavor that was promised. | Cheryll Frank - Lexington, KY 29-Oct-2008
Yacon is truly a remarkable plant. It is indeed a wonder root crop! A safer natural alternative for your health! For more information, you can also visit us at www.elyacon.biz | Elyacon Agri-ventures - San Pedro, Laguna, PH 26-Apr-2009
Yacon is amazing! I harvested a heap of tubers from my plant. Though I have learned from experience, for storage overwinter keep in COOL, dark dry place.. otherwise the tubers wrinkle and go soft, and rot upon replanting. Enjoy! | Brentan Doeven - Warrnambool, VIC 03-Oct-2009
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Updated: 7th of May, 2009 at 3:19pm © Disclaimer/Privacy/Copyright