Yacon in Zone 8a & 8b
Smallanthus sonchifolius
Yes, yacon grows in zones 8a and 8b. Start seeds indoors Jan 28–Feb 4 and plant out Apr 15–Apr 22.
When to plant yacon in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b 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 | Jan 28–Feb 4 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 15–Apr 22 |
| Estimated harvest | Nov 11–Nov 18 (~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 8b
These go outside within two weeks of yacon in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- TomatoApr 8–Apr 15
- Bush BeansApr 1–Apr 8
- Sweet CornApr 1–Apr 8
- CucumberApr 1–Apr 8
- ZucchiniApr 1–Apr 8
- Winter SquashApr 1–Apr 8
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 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Yacon needs about 210 days from transplant to first harvest.
Yacon planting windows in every zone
Zone 8b 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 | Feb 13–Feb 20 | May 1–May 8 | Nov 27–Dec 4 |
| 8a & 8b (your zone) | 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 →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
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 8b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Yacon in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest