Yam Bean (Jicama) (forum)

Shaun starts with ...
I am trying to grow Yam Bean tuber, but the seeds that I got had all failed to germinate (last season and this season).
Now I have run out of seeds.
Does anyone know where I could obtain seeds in Australia?
Has anyone got much success growing Yam Bean tubers in Perth?
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Time: 28th November 2009 1:54am

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JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Hi Shaun,

You could get them from Asian groceries in Perth because I have seen them sold in Melbourne that way. Those are imported from Taiwan but seeds are very liable because I buy kingkong seeds from those shops and they geminate well.

Another place is Edenseeds where they have very good selection of seeds and geminate well too.

I once grew them but due to the cold no roots harvest

Time: 28th November 2009 7:10am

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Speedy says...
Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) is a tropical plant and is also sensitive to daylength
so may only produce roots in short days ie. winter in areas away from the equator.
This presents a problem as that coincides with cold weather and frosts.
There is another plant I'm trialing wich may be a better option.

Ahipa (Pachyrhizus ahipa) is more of a low shrubby plant than a stong climbing vine like Jicama.
It is an ancient Incan food plant from Bolivia and not much known elsewhere.
It, unlike jicama in not daylength sensetive , so may be a better option.

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=iT0rAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=&f=false

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=O_QfhwpEajoC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=&f=false


I'll mainly concentrate on seed production this year to build up seed stock,
then as a food crop next season.
I'll report back after harvest.

Time: 28th November 2009 10:12am

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amanda says...
Great info Speedy! Shaun - many Asian grocery stores in Perth sell these seeds (as well as all sorts of other interesting ones).
I just bought the Yam bean to try - so if it doesn't work then I will know why!
Some of the US gardening forums have a bit of interesting info on these. Apparently the seeds are a bit toxic?


Time: 23rd December 2009 12:19pm

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Speedy says...
Amanda, they should grow ok where you are.
I found that they grew ok around Byron Bay which is about the same latitude as Geraldton.
The temperatures are a bit more moderated by moisture/rainfall/lush growth there than Geraldton though.

Just start them as early as you can.

Time: 23rd December 2009 11:23pm

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amanda says...
Thanks Speedy - by early do u mean now? The instructions are all in chinese or such - so I have no idea!! :-)

Time: 23rd December 2009 11:45pm

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au0rey says...
Wow yam tubers...they are delicious...and very very expensive in markets here in Australia.

Time: 24th December 2009 9:48am

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recher says...
i've bought and planted tubers from chinatown

Time: 24th December 2009 9:52am

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Shaun says...
Which Chinatown, recher - Sydney ? Melbourne ? Adelaide ?


Time: 25th December 2009 3:57am

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Earthwise says...
Jicama seed is available from Green Harvest and Eden Seeds by mail order but it requires a long growing season of 9 months frost free to produce full size tubers. In 5 months frost free you will still get a harvest but the tubers will be smaller.
http://greenharvest.com.au/Plants/jicama_info.html

Earthwise would like to declare a close connection to Green Harvest

Time: 2nd February 2010 12:58pm

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Lyn says...
Does anyone know whether you need to remove the flower bud to get any tubers?

Time: 8th February 2010 10:30pm

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Earthwise says...
The yield is much higher with the flowers removed. Usually just one plant is left to flower to provide seeds for next year's crop. The seeds keep for a few years, so a seed crop isn't necessary every year. Removing the flowers is a good idea generally as the production of pods is prolific and as they are toxic, it avoids the risk of a visitor munching on them.

Time: 12th February 2010 4:27pm

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Lyn says...
Hi Earthwise,
I have a couple of jicama plants which are in buds. Should I remove them now or wait till the buds open. I'm not sure if it is relevant between flower and bud when come to producing tubers..
Thanks.

Time: 17th February 2010 5:12pm

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Earthwise says...
The flowers are very pretty, so I usually wait until the petals drop.
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Time: 25th February 2010 5:03pm

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recher says...
definitely sydney and maybe brisbane

Time: 25th February 2010 10:56pm

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Sheamus says...
Seeds need a very warm soil to sprout - October here in Brisbane is good, leave until late winter to harvest. More good info and seed orders here; http://www.greenharvest.com.au/Plants/jicama_info.html


Time: 29th July 2010 8:48pm

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MaryT says...
Mike (Cairns) gave me a pod and one seed sprouted within days but when the others came out they look totally different (small one in pic) - did I somehow planted a different seed? Perhaps it's a snake bean?
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Time: 26th February 2012 8:05am

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Mike says...
Mary T Picture 1 looks more like a snake bean and pic 2 lookslike a jicama.I have loads of pods on the vines at the moment.

Time: 26th February 2012 8:24am

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MaryT says...
Thanks, Mike. So I have a number of jimcama but just one snake bean. Would jimcama make tubers in Sydney, I wonder?

Time: 26th February 2012 8:37am

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Mike says...
Those jicama are a chinese variety which I presume are cold tolerant.I think they are a summer crop in a large area of china so should be alright in sydney.

Time: 26th February 2012 9:40am

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MaryT says...
Thanks, Mike. I now have five seedlings but my friend who took half a pod (as insurance) hasn't raised one. Since she lives in warmer climes and raise seeds that she collects as a profession, I think I can now claim those green thumbs as mine. LOL

By the way this morning I counted almost FIFTY plants from you not counting the seedlings at two leaf stage!! Who's too generous?

Honestly, tending those inches of greens that arrived in zip lock bags has given me an absorbing interest. My potting table is two steps from my door and under cover so I've been able to spend a little time or a lot there at leisure. THANK YOU

Time: 27th February 2012 7:48am

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trikus says...
I have got nice small tubers from autumn planted seeds ..vines did not climb much at all either . Delicous crispy and great in salads .

Time: 27th February 2012 11:13am

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MaryT says...
Ummm sounds yummy trikus. Guess I'll have to wait till next year for them.

Time: 27th February 2012 11:30am

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Mark Nature Carer says...
This is a good company to look into to get some delicious Yam Bean Tuber.

Shreded Yam Bean and shreded Carrot makes a great salad or mix for Canapes.

http://aetwy.fmvty.servertrust.com/category-s/1835.htm

Time: 23rd August 2014 5:42pm

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Linton says...
Yam Beans!

Say Hello to some huge juicy Yam Beans at Parkmore today. I got a few of them but how to eat??
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Time: 27th August 2014 3:56pm

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Julie W says...
Linton, never grown them, but from my 'Seed Savers Handbook': The raw tubers taste like apples. Because the cut root does not discolour and stays crisp, it is the perfect ingredient for garnishes or hors d'oeuvres and a fair replacement for water chestnut in stir fries.

It is sliced, sprinkled with lemon juice, salt, pepper and hot chillies.


Time: 27th August 2014 7:10pm

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Linton says...
Thanks Julie, I still have to get round to trying them now they're sitting on my kitchen bench.

Can you also please tell me if I plant these tubers will they grow? Thanks.


Time: 27th August 2014 7:48pm

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Julie W says...
Again, from the 'Seed Savers Handbook': Propagated by tuber or seed.

At the end of the season when the roots have developed, the vine will give bunches of purple flowers and then wide, flat, hard pods. The seeds should be planted in spring.

The seeds last several years.

Time: 28th August 2014 1:32am

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Linton says...
Got some recipes for the Yam Beans now.

Apparently they are very popular in Vietnamese cooking. Especially for steamed fish. They are supposed to remove the fishy smell and still enhance the flavour of the fish.

I was also told they can be grated for use in Spring Rolls.

Chow!

Time: 5th September 2014 8:03pm

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KimW says...
You can get seeds from green harvest online.

Time: 30th November 2016 11:04pm

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