Discovering Yacon - Harvesting, Propagating, Planting and Tasting!!

I've had Yacon plants in the ground for a couple of years and have yet to harvest them but today's the day! In todays video we dig up a plant to harvest not only the tubers but also additional plants. I love plants that can easily split as I can then spread them around my swale food forest and further add to diversity. I also have a little taste testing - straight out of the ground and also see how the taste changes with leaving the tuber to cure for a week!
Instagram
www.instagram....
I've started a buymeacoffee page - it should be renamed buymeaplant page as I hope to use funds raised here to diversify my trees and shrubs in the food forest. If you'd like to support me - link is below!! Thank you!
www.buymeacoff...
I use a Japanese Sickle ( it's called a long grass sickle ) in my garden - below is a link to the website where I bought this. The link will give you $5 off your purchase and I will receive 500 points (not sure what that means to me at this stage but some sort of loyalty program!!)
i.refs.cc/R7tm...
#permaculture #selfsufficientliving #nodiggardening

[@petermcfadden9426]

I've grown yacon in my North Wales UK garden for many years. Very easy to grow, the tubers survive the frosts OK. Worth growing if you have the space.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

That’s good to know - thanks Peter - just had a question on that!!

[@vickiwood9192]

I'm American. A United States Department of Agriculture PubAg abstract states, unlike many root crops which store carbohydrates in the form of starch, yacon accumulates carbohydrates in the form fructooligosaccarides. Fructooligosaccarides are not metabolized in the digestive tract, thus eating yacon does not increase the level of glucose in the blood. Yacon is thought to have high potential for diabetics and for people struggling with obesity. Yacon is usually eaten raw but can also be dried or made into a syrup. The syrup can be drizzled over pancakes or desserts or used to sweeten drinks. I'm enjoying your videos!

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Hi Vicki - thanks for all that great information!! And so pleased that you are enjoying the videos - thanks for watching 😊

[@5acrefarm]

This was brilliant to watch! My mum (who's in South Gippsland as-well) gave me some Yacon plants to grow here! I'm so excited to see how they go. Thanks for all the info Linda :)

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Good luck with them all and thanks 😊

[@sharimuhamad5905]

I have zero knowledge regarding Yacon. Thank you for the video.❤

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

My pleasure! Until recently I didn't know much myself 😄

[@jomcleay]

I love the smell of them every year when harvesting- it’s quite evocative

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

ooh I didn't pick up on that - will have to take more notice next time - thanks Jo xx

[@jomcleay]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture I didn’t notice it until the second and later years of harvesting haha

[@LittleGardenBigDreams]

They are great at multiplying very quickly Linda🌱🌱I had them for years and took some with us to the van and they grew huge!! But once we moved out, I went back to dig them out and the kangaroo’s had eaten them all😬 They are quite a versatile tuber to use in cooking or eaten raw. Enjoy! xx Cathi xx 😘

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

I’m hoping the ducks will love them - thanks Cathi!! 😊

[@countrymousesfarmhouse497]

Yay for yacon. I can't wait to add these to my front orchard. Great video , you covered a few things I needed to learn. I'll have to look further into it. Thanks lovely ❤❤

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Pleased you enjoyed 😊xx

[@christasmicroflowerfarm2695]

Hi Linda, I must give them a go.🌱😉🙃😊

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Easy to grow and quite tasty so if you have space , why not!! Thanks Christa!

[@Bernie5172]

I never heard of yacon before now.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

It’s quite a nice plant & veg!!

[@mauimago8275]

I dont know that plant but it looks like something i would def try. Have a lovely day

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

It is quite a nice plant to have in the garden. And I did have a nice day (sorry for slow reply!!) 😊

[@mauimago8275]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture blessings 👍

[@deborahlee8135]

I have tried it fresh and enjoyed it too. I really like the crunch 😂 it did cross my mind when you mentioned the sugars whether it may ferment as a probiotic type drink?

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

The crunch was great! Not sure whether inulin ferments - maybe get yourself some bees and make mead from the honey - I’m sure that would have probiotics 😆

[@deborahlee8135]

Yes, bees are definitely on my list. Having been helping a friend but will organise a proper mentor when i start. Year two i think when i have some shelter for them.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Definitely don’t rush into them (although I couldn’t help myself so I’d understand if you did haha)

[@MartinaSchoppe]

The German wiki page on yakon mentions fermenting and drying for chips (not like french fries but like the apple slices, I imagine 🙃 ) to preserve them.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

That sounds like a great way to use them!!

[@harriettejensen479]

I grew a yacon several years ago and did like the tubers fresh. I have seen other videos where they attempted to store the yacon over wenter and it was a total failure. Although I liked the yacon, I haven't grown it since because it grew quite large (larger than a rhubarb) and I have a small bacck garden and could grow several other plants in the same amount of sace.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Yes totally understand not growing it if space is limited! Not sure how long they’d last even in the refrigerator- I imagine much the same as other veg! Have a great week Harriette!

[@dawntoy5859]

Hi Linda, I can’t remember which segment that I asked you where did you buy your broad fork from? I can’t seem to find one here in Perth

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Hopefully you've found all my replies by now and the broad fork answer was there too! You can find plenty online and will deliver such as this one here! www.fdryan.com/store/p69/broadfork.html

[@janetnorris2255]

Do the yacon tubers do ok over winter in freezing temps?

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

The yacon rhizomes don't survive freezing temperature in the soil and I'm not actually sure whether the tubers do any better. In my climate the soil never freezes so I could leave the tubers on the plant and harvest throughout winter as necessary and the rhizomes will just grow again in spring. In areas where the soil freezes or gets very cold you would be best to dig up the rhizomes, store them, then plant out again in spring. As for the tubers, really just guessing, but I think you'd be best to enjoy them close to harvest as I don't believe they do great with longer storage.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Peter from North Wales says the tubers do survive frosts ok!