Also known as Mexican turnip or Mexican potato, jicama is a starchy and crunchy root that is often used raw or cooked. Delicious thinly sliced in salads, or cooked in soups and stews, jicama tastes a little bit like an apple. Today we'll show you how to grow jicama and bring a little exotic touch to your garden.
How to Grow Jicama in Your Garden
Jicama is best grown in warmer climates, so if you live in a cooler climate, we advise against planting jicama. Jicamas needs full sun and a long growing season. Also, you may think of building a trellis so your jicama shoots can climb up.
Planting Jicama:
- As soon as the weather is warm, you can plant seeds directly into the soil or use transplants.
- Choose a sunny location with a trellis.
- Space each plant about 12 inches apart. Each plant gives about 4-5 roots.
- Grow jicama in moist, but well drained soil.
- Fertilize your jicama with a potassium-rich fertilizer.
- Jicama is not easily affected by pests as their flowers, seeds, leaves, and vines are poisonous. With that being said, humans should also not consume the above mentioned parts, but solely the root.
- Water regularly.
Harvesting Jicama:
- Dig out the tubes as lost as possible, preferably about 150 days after you've transplanted.
- If you see the vines starting to die down, it's time to dig up!
- Harvest gently as not to break or injure the root.
- Store in a dry, cool place.
Happy Planting!
