True Jicama
Seed Count: Approx. 15 seeds
Days to Maturity: 150 days
Description: True Jicama, also known as the yam bean, is a tropical tuber native to Mexico in the bean family. Its white flesh is crisp, crunchy, and sweet, with light tannish-brown skin. These 15-20 ft., vigorous vines love long hot summers, and is best grown in zones 7-10. When the conditions are right, tubers can grow 4-6 inches in diameter, and about 4-5 lbs.! Naturally, cooler zones with shorter summers will produce smaller roots, but they're still just as delicious. You can eat jicama raw added to salads, or cut up and sprinkled with a lil tajin as a delicious snack. You can also eat it cooked! It is a great replacement for water chestnuts, in recipes as well, plus, they make delicious fries. Only the roots of this plant are edible and not toxic, and these vigorous vines will need something to climb like an arbor or trellis. Tubers are ready to harvest in the fall.