Anyone growing jicama? Please share details.
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Mine from last year grown from seed (Mexican Jicama). I replanted seed this year. They weren’t sprouting so I bought some Thai Jicama plants. When I went to plant them, my jicama seeds were sprouting. I swear my plants spite me sometimes.
I grow mine in an IBC tote turned into a raised bed. Its deep, but the jicama seem to stay just below the plant (unlike a sweet potato for example.) I planted mine in May last year (probably) and pulled them December 1st.
Last year, I had zinnias in the bed as well, and that really stunted the jicama. They didn’t really show any real growth until I trimed the flowers and they got more sun exposure (mid-August). So they need direct sunlight. You can harvest earlier for smaller tubers. I pulled a small one only a couple of weeks into growing, and it already had a little ping pong ball for a tuber. Still would recommend at least a 5 month growing season for good tubers. Probably not frost hardy, I pulled mine before any chance of frost.
They taste good! Texture of a turnip with none of the muskiness of one. Very sweet too.
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Those look great! Thanks for sharing your experience. We love them and only just occurred to me that we might be able to grow them. Did the vines really grow 15+ feet?
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Not really. They stayed in the tote pretty well. All stretched out they were maybe 6-8ft at most. I may or may not have kept them cut back, but can’t remember. I don’t think I did though. My zinnias became the trelis for them.
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That’s a relief to hear! Very encouraging. I think I’ll run with your one good experience and try next year.
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If I remember in winter, I can tell you how this years crop goes. I’m pretty excited for them again.
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