Yacon in Zone 7a & 7b
Smallanthus sonchifolius
Yes, yacon grows in zones 7a and 7b. Start seeds indoors Feb 13–Feb 20 and plant out May 1–May 8.
When to plant yacon in zone 7b
Zones 7a and 7b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Feb 13–Feb 20 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 1–May 8 |
| Estimated harvest | Nov 27–Dec 4 (~210 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-6 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 7b
These go outside within two weeks of yacon in zone 7b, so one planting day can cover them.
- TomatoApr 24–May 1
- Bush BeansApr 17–Apr 24
- Sweet CornApr 17–Apr 24
- CucumberApr 17–Apr 24
- ZucchiniApr 17–Apr 24
- Winter SquashApr 17–Apr 24
Yacon is a tall Andean sunflower relative grown for its large, crisp, mildly sweet storage roots, usually sliced and eaten raw like fruit rather than cooked.
How yacon fits zone 7's season
Zone 7b's frost-free window runs about 198 days, from April 10 to October 25. Yacon needs about 210 days from transplant to first harvest.
Yacon planting windows in every zone
Zone 7b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6a & 6b | Feb 28–Mar 7 | May 16–May 23 | Dec 12–Dec 19 |
| 7a & 7b (your zone) | Feb 13–Feb 20 | May 1–May 8 | Nov 27–Dec 4 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Apr 15–Apr 22 | Nov 11–Nov 18 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 21–Dec 28 | Mar 8–Mar 15 | Oct 4–Oct 11 |
| 10a & 10b | Dec 5–Dec 12 | Feb 20–Feb 27 | Sep 18–Sep 25 |
| 11a & 11b | Nov 6–Nov 13 | Jan 22–Jan 29 | Aug 20–Aug 27 |
Harvest dates are about 210 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
No well-established companions for yacon.
Where to buy yacon seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries yacon seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing yacon" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 7b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Yacon in USDA zone 7b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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