Yam

Plant family

- others -

Cultivation Break

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Dark germinator

Germination temperature

22 - 25 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

70 cm

Row spacing

80 cm

Seeding depth

7 cm

Instructions

The season for this plant is over. The following instructions are for the next season.

Mid of March

Pre-germination

Mid of May

Basic fertilization

End of May

Planting

Description

Yams (Dioscorea), also called yam or yamroot, are a genus of plants in the family Dioscoreaceae. The up to 800 species are mainly distributed in the tropics. Some species are important tropical food and medicinal plants. Distribution The genus Dioscorea is distributed worldwide, from tropical to temperate regions. In China, there are 52 species, 21 of which are endemic. Some species are neophytes in some parts of the world. The only species native to Europe are the Balkan devil's bit (Dioscorea balcanica), Dioscorea chouardii, the common devil's bit (Dioscorea communis), and Dioscorea pyrenaica. In Central Europe, only the common devil's bit is native. The genus Yams (Dioscorea) comprises about 350 to 800 species. Growth Yam species grow as twining, perennial herbaceous plants. They form rhizomes or tubers as organs for overwintering, which can vary greatly in size, shape, color, and chemical composition, as well as in their depth in the soil. Some species form brood tubers in the leaf axils (for example, *Dioscorea bulbifera*). New, twining stems are produced each growing season. The simple or branched stems twine clockwise or counter-clockwise; they are smooth or winged, polygonal or cylindrical; they are hairless or may sometimes have spines. Leaf The leaves, which are arranged spirally and alternately to seemingly opposite or whorled, are divided into a petiole and a blade. The relatively long petioles are twisted at their base. The simple or compound blade has three to nine basal veins. Flower The relatively small flowers are always unisexual. Dioscorea species are usually dioecious (dioecious), rarely monecious (monecious), with separate sexes. The flowers are radially symmetrical and have three sepals. Fruit The three-angled or -winged capsule fruits open at the top by loculicidal dehiscence when ripe. Each fruit compartment contains only two, or rarely one, seed. The flattened seeds often have membranous wings. Uses Some species and their cultivars are useful plants, both as important food plants and as medicinal plants. Many yam species are cultivated as a food source for their edible root tubers. In the most cultivated species, the underground tubers can reach a length of up to 2 meters; their flavor is sweet and similar to that of chestnuts and potatoes. They have dark brown to black skin and are rich in provitamin A as well as potassium. With the exception of the "Chinese yam" (Lichtwurzel, Nagaimo, Dioscorea polystachya, Dioscorea batatas, Dioscorea divaricata, or mistakenly also Dioscorea opposita or Dioscorea oppositifolia) and Dioscorea japonica, all yam species are toxic when eaten raw. Yams are similar in taste and appearance to sweet potatoes, but they are not related. In South America, Africa, and the Caribbean, yams are a common part of the vegetable selection, and in tropical cuisines, they are an important source of starch. Yams contain a small amount of amygdalin, which is converted into hydrogen cyanide in the intestine.

Growing tips

🌞 Location & soil - Full sun, warm location (over 20°C) - Protected from the wind, but airy - Humus-rich, loose, sandy-loamy - Moderately to heavily nutrient-rich - Well-drained, permeable, no waterlogging 🌱 Sowing & planting - Pre-cultivation: pre-germinate tubers from March/April (the earlier, the larger the tubers) - Germination temperature: 22-25 °C - Germination period: 3-6 weeks - Sowing depth: half in moist soil - Light: bright, no direct midday sun - Planting time: mid-May (after ice saints) - Planting distance: 60-80 cm - Row spacing: 70-90 cm - Plant support: yes - Keep evenly moist 💧 Care - Watering: Evenly moist, never wet - Mulching: Retains moisture, warms the soil - Basic fertilization: Compost or well-rotted manure in spring - Fertilization: 3-4 weekly with potassium (compost, plant manure, horn shavings) - Guide shoots ❄️ Winter protection - The light root (Dioscorea batatas) can overwinter in the garden in our regions 🌾 Pruning & harvesting - Harvest time: from October before frost (depending on variety) - As soon as the leaves turn yellow, carefully dig out the tubers - Post-ripening: store in a warm and dry place for 1-2 weeks 🌿 Good neighbors - Beans, peas, corn - Basil, oregano, thyme, sage, savory, dill, coriander, lovage - Spinach, chives, onions, garlic, lettuce, carrots, parsnips, beet - Tomatoes, peppers, chili - Strawberries, gooseberries, currants - Turnips, celery - Ferns, begonias, hellebores, purple bellflower, sedum, houseleek, astilbe - Coneflower, catmint, yarrow, marigold, small ornamental grasses, cosmos - Cranesbill, lady's mantle, delphinium, limb herbs, lupine, magerites - privet, hydrangea, weigelia, potentilla, spirea, low roses - rock pear, pear 🚫 Bad neighbors - Potatoes, sweet potatoes, sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke, wormwood, mint - Turnip, rapeseed, celery - Cucumbers, pumpkin, zucchinis, cabbage - Funkia, bamboo, reeds - hazelnut, elderberry, forsythia, ivy, goutweed - Walnut, maple, birch, willow, chestnut, rhododendron, summer lilac - Ornamental cherry, hawthorn, apple - Raspberries, blueberries 🍂 Diseases - Powdery mildew - Leaf spot diseases - Root rot 🐌 Pests - Aphids - spider mites - voles - snails - Wireworms