trefle.io · Taken Dec 1, 2022 by prasantahembram (cc-by-sa)
Dioscoreaceae
Greater yam
Dioscorea alata
Also known as Winged yam, Water yam, White yam, Dioscorea eburnea
Tropical Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Native Plants · Tropical · Vine · Edible Root · Yam · Tuber · Climbing Plant · Food Crop · Perennial · Tropical Vegetable · Trellis
Greater yam is a vigorous tropical vine that needs a sturdy trellis or support structure and rich, well-draining soil in a warm, sunny location. Water regularly to keep the soil moist and fertilize monthly during the growing season for the best tuber development. Harvest the large, edible tubers after the foliage dies back in autumn or early winter.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 7 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; reduce watering as vines mature · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Temperature
- -20°F to 90°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 5a-10b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 18 in
- Spacing
- 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Andaman Is., Angola, Assam, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bismarck Archipelago, Bolivia, Borneo, Brazil West-Central, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caroline Is., Central African Repu, Chad, China South-Central
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle
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