Jicama is also known as Yam Bean and/or the Mexican Turnip. It is a crunchy, mildly sweet large root vegetable. Vines can be 10 – 20 feet. Only the peeled tuber / rhizome is edible, all other parts are poisonous.
The tuber can be eaten raw or cooked – such as a snack, slaw or Jicama fries. Taste and texture are between apple, water chestnut and/or potato.
Planting
Soak the seeds overnight. Plant in full sun about ½” deep and 8” apart. Base of plant doesn’t require a lot of space, but vines need support and space to sprawl.
Caring
Produces flowers and green bean like pods. Removing flowers may enhance yield. Tuber can grow 4 - 6" diameter and 4-5 pounds in weight.
Harvesting
Ready in about nine months under good conditions. Don’t allow plant to get too old as the tuber can get hard and woody.
