How to Grow Jicamas UK | Planting & Establishment

Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus)

Piles of jicama tubers on a vendor cart. Photo: Elmer B. Domingo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Also known as: Yam Bean · 2 sources cited

The short answer

Ready in: 150–270 days
Site: soil pH 6.5–8

In the UK, jicamas are ready to harvest 150–270 days after planting.

Jicamas (Pachyrhizus erosus) — Frost-tender perennial vine grown as an annual for its single large tuber.

Unlike an annual crop, the work here is front-loaded into establishment: get the planting and the site right and the same plants crop for several seasons.

Soil & Growing Conditions

Jicama plants growing in a garden bed — “Starr-131002-2393-Pachyrhizus erosus-habit-Hawea Pl Olinda-Maui (25109072192)” by Forest and Kim Starr is licensed under CC BY 3.0 us. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Starr-131002-2393-Pachyrhizus erosus-habit-Hawea Pl Olinda-Maui (25109072192)” by Forest and Kim Starr is licensed under CC BY 3.0 us. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Water: Moderate; seasonal rainfall, or high rainfall on sharply drained ground

Soil pH range

6.5 8

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Quick Facts

A hand held against a jicama leaf to show its size — “Pachyrhizus erosus SF26099-05” by Steve Fitzgerald is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Pachyrhizus erosus SF26099-05” by Steve Fitzgerald is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Factor	Value
Soil pH	6.5 - 8
Optimal growing temp	21-28C
Time to harvest	150-270 days
Soil texture	Well-drained alluvial or volcanic soil
Drainage	Well-drained; does not tolerate waterlogging
Lifecycle	Frost-tender perennial vine grown as an annual for its single large tuber.

Harvest & Storage

Piles of jicama tubers on a vendor cart — “Singkamas vendor in San Marcelino, Zambales” by Elmer B. Domingo is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Singkamas vendor in San Marcelino, Zambales” by Elmer B. Domingo is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: Tubers are lifted once they reach size. Useful Tropical Plants gives 150-270 days, or as little as 90 in ideal conditions. LEAVE THE PODS AND SEED: they carry rotenone.

Jicama through the season

The crop

Tubers as sold. This single swollen root is the only part of the plant that is food.

Jicama tubers sold at a roadside stall — “Singkamas vendor” by Elmer B. Domingo is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Singkamas vendor” by Elmer B. Domingo is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

At market

Useful Tropical Plants gives the harvest at 150-270 days, or as little as 90 in ideal conditions.

In the ground

PROSEA gives an optimum daytime temperature of 21-28C on well-drained alluvial or volcanic soil that must not waterlog.

A jicama vine covering a wall of foliage — “Pachyrhizus erosus SF26099-10” by Steve Fitzgerald is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Pachyrhizus erosus SF26099-10” by Steve Fitzgerald is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

A vigorous vine

The top growth is enormous relative to the root, which is why growers pinch out the flowers.

The leaf

Broad and three-lobed. A hand gives the scale.

A cluster of purple jicama flowers — “Pachyrhizus erosus SF26099-08” by Steve Fitzgerald is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Pachyrhizus erosus SF26099-08” by Steve Fitzgerald is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The flower

Purple to lilac. Flowering and tuber growth are both triggered by shortening days, which is the crux for temperate growers.

A spike of lilac jicama flowers on the vine — “Pachyrhizus erosus SF26099-09” by Steve Fitzgerald is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Pachyrhizus erosus SF26099-09” by Steve Fitzgerald is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Flower spike

Removing these as they appear is standard practice: seed production comes at the tuber's expense.

Jicama flowers held in the palm of a hand — “Pachyrhizus erosus SF26099-11” by Steve Fitzgerald is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Pachyrhizus erosus SF26099-11” by Steve Fitzgerald is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Close up

Handsome, and the reason the plant is sometimes grown ornamentally in the tropics.

Green jicama pods hanging on the vine — “Starr-131002-2395-Pachyrhizus erosus-flowers leaves and seedpods-Hawea Pl Olinda-Maui (25201048366)” by Forest and Kim Starr is licensed under CC BY 3.0 us. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Starr-131002-2395-Pachyrhizus erosus-flowers leaves and seedpods-Hawea Pl Olinda-Maui (25201048366)” by Forest and Kim Starr is licensed under CC BY 3.0 us. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

DO NOT EAT THE PODS

Mature seeds carry 0.5-1.0% rotenone plus 0.5-1.0% rotenoids (PROSEA). Rotenone is a commercial insecticide. The tubers are free of it; the seeds are not.

Jicama pods developing among the broad leaves — “Starr-131002-2397-Pachyrhizus erosus-flowers leaves and seedpods-Hawea Pl Olinda-Maui (25201052346)” by Forest and Kim Starr is licensed under CC BY 3.0 us. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Starr-131002-2397-Pachyrhizus erosus-flowers leaves and seedpods-Hawea Pl Olinda-Maui (25201052346)” by Forest and Kim Starr is licensed under CC BY 3.0 us. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Pods among the leaves

The foliage carries under 0.01% rotenone and rotenoids. Young pods must be thoroughly cooked; mature seed should not be eaten at all.

References

2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do jicamas take to grow?

Typically 150–270 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.

What soil pH do jicamas need?

A pH of about 6.5–8. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

Plan next season before the problems start

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

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How to Grow Jicamas UK | Planting & Establishment

Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus)

Soil & Growing Conditions

Quick Facts

Harvest & Storage

Jicama through the season

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Where To Go From Here

Plan the next step

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How to Grow Jicamas UK | Planting & Establishment

Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus)

Soil & Growing Conditions

Quick Facts

Harvest & Storage

Jicama through the season

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Where To Go From Here

Plan your veg garden before you dig a single inch

Plan the next step