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Herbal Database Search ResultsBack to: Pathways Main Search Page For Metaphysical uses visit The Witchs Haven Polymnia edulis
Physical CharacteristicsPerennial growing to 1m by 0.6m at a fast rate. It is hardy to zone 8 and is frost tender. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 4/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil. Habitats and Possible LocationsWoodland, Cultivated Beds, Sunny Edge.Edible UsesDrink Leaves Root Sweetener.
Root - raw or cooked[1, 22, 46, 61]. When first harvested, the root can
taste somewhat starchy[K], but it soon becomes sweet, crisp and juicy and is
delicious eaten raw[196, K]. The flavour is further improved by exposure to
the sun although some of the crispness will be lost[97, 183, K]. The root can
be eaten like a fruit or diced and added to salads[183]. The skin has a
somewhat resinous taste so it is usually removed[196]. The cooked root
retains is sweetness and crispness[196]. Individual roots can weigh up to
500g[196]. The nutritional value is low because the root contains a high
quantity of inulin, a carbohydrate that the human body cannot utilize[196].
Medicinal UsesDisclaimerNone known Other UsesNone knownCultivation detailsFor best results, this plant requires a warm position in a deep rich soil[1], though it survives even when growing in poor soils[196]. Plants are fast-growing[196]. In S. America, they succeed in areas with annual rainfall varying from 900 - 3500mm[196], though are likely to succeed with less rain in temperate zones.The yacon is cultivated for its edible tuber in the Andes, and is sometimes used in sub-tropical summer bedding schemes in Britain, though it is not very hardy[1]. The top growth is killed back by frost but the tubers can tolerate at least light frosts[196]. Plants are unaffected by day-length and so can produce good yields of roots in temperate zones[196]. One report says that plants take 6 - 7 months to produce a crop from planting out[196], though on our &ndndndnd trial ground they have cropped quite well with a 5 month growing period[K]. The roots are brittle and must be harvested with care to avoid damage[196]. Yields of 38 tonnes per hectare have been recorded in South America[196], whilst yields of over 2 kilos per plant have been achieved outdoors in &ndndndnd[K]. The harvested roots can be stored for several months[196]. Plants have not been selected for flavour or yield, some roots can be exceedingly sweet whilst others are fairly bland[196]. Plants might be useful in agroforestry because they succeed under trees[196], though in the relatively sunless climes of Britain the plants are not likely to do well in the shade of trees[K]. PropagationSeed - sow mid winter in a warm greenhouse and only just cover the seed[1]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away well. Plants do not usually produce flowers in Britain and therefore seed has to be obtained from other countries[K].Division in autumn. The plant forms 2 distinct types of tuber. Large tubers, usually on thin roots 2 - 5cm long, are used as storage organs and do not have the capacity to form new shoots. These are the tubers that are usually eaten. Smaller tubers are formed in a cluster around the stem. These form the shoots for the following year's growth and so are the ones that should be stored. Dig up the plants in the autumn once the top growth has been cut down by frost. Remove the large tubers for food, cut the main stems back to about 10cm long and store these stems with their cluster of small tubers in a cool frost-free place. Do not let them dry out. Pot them up in early spring in a greenhouse. When they come into active growth divide each cluster into individual shoots with their tubers attached and repot these. Plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts[K]. Cuttings of basal shoots in early spring in a warm greenhouse[1]. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. SuppliersFor more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look. PFAF Web PagesThis plant is mentioned in the following web pagesWeb References
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources. Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images. References[K] Ken Fern
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951 [22] Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods. [46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959 [61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202 [97] Towle. M. A. The Ethno-Botany of Pre-Columbian Peru. [183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 [196] Popenoe. H. et al Lost Crops of the Incas National Academy Press 1990 ISBN 0-309-04264-X Readers CommentsBrenner's Experience on Growing YaconsBrenner (michael@thewitchshaven.com) Wed Oct 23 17:56:13 2002 This article originally appeared in the Jan 1998 edition of the Friends of PFAF newsletter.
What can I say about this plant? I grew some last year in tubs in the garden (because of an impending move) and I was constantly asked if they were Triffids! The Yacon, I believe, comes from South America. It is a tuberous plant topped by enormous leaves (in fact, although the leaves have a different shape the span is similar to rhubarb), the stems etc. are quite hairy. The tubers, when harvested, weighed in at 14lbs (6.3 kilos) and that from just 3 plants. Had I been able to grow them in the ground then I am sure that the yields would have been even higher! The overall yields were very good, better than I have ever done with potatoes. I did make sure the plants were kept well watered and once a week gave them a liquid feed of either comfrey or diluted urine. The top growth was cut down by the first heavy frosts of the autumn, and this would have been the best time to harvest the tubers. However, at this time I was busy moving home and so the plants were left in the tubs until January. Most of the tubers were a very good size and in good condition. They have stored well and I am still eating them now (late March). In fact, I felt that they kept better by being left in the pots and certainly the small top tubers (the ones that are used to grow the following year’s plants) were already sprouting when the plants were dug up. In the previous year all my top tubers had rotted away whilst in store. I am planting these small tubers in pots at the moment and have managed to get 10 - 12 plants from each plant I grew last year. Yacons are delicious to eat either raw or cooked. They are crisp and juicy with a lovely sweetness, in fact they are much more like a fruit than a root crop. I like to peel them thinly (this peel is rather aromatic and I am not too keen on it) and then cut them into thin slices and add them to salads just before serving. The tubers tend to pick up the flavours of foods they are cooked with and I find their crunchy texture goes very well in a stir fry. They go well with avocado pears and a squeeze of lemon and I like adding them to a tomato and basil salad where they add a nice crunch. I could go on about ways to eat it, but you must suit yourselves. I’m told that you can boil and bake them, though I have never tried them this way. Stir-frying with ginger, garlic, onions and mushrooms, plus some mustard and stock with a nut crumble topping is gorgeous. I must stop now or I’ll get totally carried away and there won’t be room for anything else in this newsletter. Next time I write it will be a diary on my almost virgin garden and my plans, along with a recipe using PFAF perennial plants. Until next time.
Brenner
Cross references: Web-pages: Alternative Root Crops.. Polymnia edulisRobert P. Nederpelt (rpned@starwon.com.au(notfordistribution)) Fri Nov 29 12:29:30 2002
Link: IPGRI Andean roots and tubers: Ahipa, arracacha, maca and yacon PDF file available Main Search Page Help Bibliography
Plant information taken from the
Plants For A Future -
Species Database.
Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
This page (UK)
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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest. |
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