A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2007 yucca root

Hey, could someone tell me how to get yucca going from a root cutting? I had trouble last year, dug some up, but couldn't find the root, planted it, ironically it didn't do anything.

I have a two year old plant that is growing well, but I don't want to hurt it. Would it hurt it to dig up a root once I know what I'm looking for?

Thanks,
Lorena

i hack off my yacca roots all the time when i take starters off it and its never hurt it, once the yaccas flower that part of it dies off and it will grow on another part of the root .[sideshoots]
after your yaccas flower look for the sideshoots in spring or sometimes fall, dig em up and chop off the sideshoots you want to replant

i took some pics of my yacca roots so ya know what they look like 1st one i didnt to much dig up but you can see a tiny little starter in it


2nd pic i dug it up you can see the root

hope it helps ya

hi,

I was doing a search on Yucca Root and pictures..and came accross this website. My name is Al in California. I am interested in growing the yucca root for eating.

My question is, can I grow the plant that we buy at the store?

If so, do you know where I can get information on getting some seedlings, roots..etc so I can grow it and the growing charactics of it.

thanks
AL

Hi Al. I am also in Cal. I have lot's of yucca but there are so many kinds, I'm not even sure of the sort that is sold for food. I am sorry not to be of help, but welcome.

Thanks Tina,

This URL gives more info on the plant.

http://www.foodreference.com/html/art-yucca-root-manioc-cassava.html
Its delicious....I find in CA at the local supermarket..but hard to find information on growing it.

Thanks, look forward in hearing more info about it.

Al

Hello Al,

Start with cuttings [stakes] from fully grown Cassava with tubers, roughly about 8-10 months old. Take the cuttings from the base and the middle section, anywhere from 20cm to 30cm [about 8" to 12"] long X 2cm [less than 1"] thick with 5-7 nodes or leaf mark.

The cuttings [stakes] can be buried flat 5cm to 10 cm [about 2"-4"] below the soil. Soil preferably light sandy loam or loamy sands. Keep the soil moist and the sprout will be out in about a week after planting. A soil pH range of 4.0 to 8.0 will be okay. Needs full sun.

If you happen to be in an area where there are lots of rain, plant the cuttings [stakes] vertically or inclined if in semi-rainy area 8cm to 15cm [3" to 6"]below the soil.

The Cassava needs about 8 months [or longer] of warm weather to produce good size tubers.

Geesh, I don't think you could do anything to hurt a Yucca plant if you tried. My neighbor had some Yuccas that she wanted taken out so she could plant something else in that space. Well, I dug them up for her but they came back the next year! :rolleyes: The 2nd year, I dug them out again and went much deeper than before, but they still came back. The third year, the same thing happened. Of course, the worst part is that every year I did this for her I got stabbed several times and cut my fingers, hands and arms quite a few times.

Well, last year, the nursery sold her someting to spray on them so I guess we'll just wait and see what happens this spring. I sure hope it works because I'm too old to be getting mauled by a plant, especially one that's smaller than me.