When to Plant Jicama

Timing

• Jicama can be planted year-round in the tropics and subtropics, which have the highest USDA zones. In USDA zone 9 gardens, plant in early spring. This gives the jicama vine time to produce tubers that are large enough to harvest in fall. The quickest way to start the plant is by planting roots. These mature within three months. Started from seed, the jicama can be harvested within five to nine months.

Preparation

• The ideal soil for growing jicama is sandy loam. This soil type offers excellent drainage and because it typically doesn’t compact, the tubers grow uniform and smooth. If you have clay soil, amend it before planting with compost, adding at least 2 to 3 inches. Amend other soils with 2 to 3 inches of coarse sand, sometimes called builder’s sand. Incorporate 6-6-12 fertilizer at a rate of 3.5 pounds per 100 square feet of garden space. Finally, ensure that the top 8 inches of soil are loose and free of rocks, roots and other debris that may impede the tubers’ growth.

Planting Jicama

• Each jicama vine produces four or five tubers. If you are planting more than one jicama root, place them 8 to 10 inches apart in rows that are spaced 3 feet apart. This gives each vine enough room to develop full-sized tubers without crowding. Water the jicama garden to a depth of 8 inches immediately after planting, and keep the soil barely moist during germination and throughout the season.

Considerations

• Like all flowering plants, when the jicama vine produces flowers, it is ready to go to seed. Most other processes in the plant, including further growth of the tuber, slow down during seed set. To encourage the roots to continue growing, remove the flowers from the vine as they appear. The only edible part of the jicama plant is the tuber. All other parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.