Gardening Plants & Flowers Vegetables

How to Grow and Care for Jicama

Plant This Tropical Root Vegetable in Your Garden or in Containers

Whole jicamas in a bamboo bowl.

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Native to Mexico, Central, and South America, jicama is a crispy, flavorful root vegetable with a vigorously growing vine that easily reaches up to 20 feet in length. It is unfussy to grow but requires nine months of warm weather before harvest. In cooler climates, it should be started from seed indoors in the late winter. 

Plant your jicama securely away from children and pets; the skin, stems, seeds, and leaves are toxic. Only the flesh of the tuberous root is safe to eat.

Common Name  Jicama, yam bean, Mexican potato, Mexican turnip
Botanical Name Pachyrhizus erosus
Family Fabaceae
Plant Type Vegetable
Size 15-20 ft. long
Sun Exposure Full sun
Soil Type Loamy, sandy, moist but well-drained
Soil pH Neutral, acidic
Hardiness Zones 10-12 (USDA)
Native Area North America, South America, Central America
Toxicity Toxic to humans and pets

How to Plant Jicama

When to Plant

Jicama requires a long growing season. Unless you are located in the warmest parts of the United States, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, or the Southwest, it's best to start seeds early in the year. Jicama plants can be direct-seeded outside in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12, but if your region experiences frost, the seeds should be started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost.

Selecting a Planting Site

Jicama plants grow in the ground or in containers. Either option is suitable depending on the space in your garden. An area with full sun is a must.

Spacing, Depth, and Support

Like potatoes, jicama grows in rows. Plant tubers 5 inches deep, spaced 2 feet apart in rows 5 feet apart. If transplanting seedlings, space them 12 inches apart.

If you want to keep the plants off the ground, they will require support at some point. You can train jicama on a net, wire fence, or bamboo tripod, but remember that if it is raised off the ground, it might be more difficult to protect it from frost.

Jicama Plant Care

Light

The plant thrives in full sun. This species is a day-length sensitive plant, meaning the tubers are not produced until the days are shorter than nine hours toward the end of the growing season.

Soil

Jicama grows best in well-drained soil that is loamy and sandy with a pH between 6.5 and 8.0. Heavy, wet soils are not suitable. If the soil is rich in organic matter, light, and friable, it might only take up to four months for smaller roots to mature (which are equally as tasty as large plants).

Water

While it does not tolerate soggy soil, jicama requires consistent watering. The soil should never dry out. Water the plant at the soil line rather than on the leaves. Ensure your jicama plants receive at least 2 inches of water per week to mature and produce healthy tubers.

Temperature and Humidity

Jicama plants are susceptible to frost and don't tolerate temperatures below 50 degrees F. The plants thrive in hot weather with average to high humidity levels.

In areas with a short, cool growing season, it is possible to grow jicama in polyethylene tunnels or greenhouses. Another alternative in cooler climates is to use a cloche or a portable cold frame in the early and late stages of the growing season to protect the foliage from frost and extend the growing season so the tubers reach harvest size.

Fertilizer

Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that boost leaf and stem growth. Instead, encourage root growth by using a potassium-rich fertilizer about once per month during the growing season. For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions.

Pollination

Jicama plants are self-pollinating, meaning the flowers contain male and female parts required for pollination. This species is also pollinated by insects.

Types of Jicama

The two jicama species most commonly grown as edibles are:

  • Pachyrhizus tuberosus has large, tuberous roots that take 180 days to reach maturity.
  • Pachyrhizus erosus is a jicama with smaller roots that matures earlier than P, tuberosus in as little as 90 to 120 days. This variety includes two types, “jicama de leche”, which yields milky juice, and “jicama de agua”, which yields watery juice. P. erosus is the most popular type of jicama found in North America, appreciated for its flavorful taste and tuberous growth.

Jicama vs. Potato

While the two tubers share many similarities, jicama and potatoes differ considerably. Jicama is a legume from the pea family. It is sweeter, larger, and has a crispier texture that can be eaten raw. Jicamas are rounder than the oval or long potato varieties, which are nightshade family members.

Harvesting Jicama

The roots are ready to harvest once the foliage has died off, or before the first fall frost kills the plants. Stop watering the plants a few weeks before harvesting to begin curing. Allow plenty of time for the tubers to develop by harvesting jicama late in the season. However, gather them before the roots reach more than 6 inches in diameter for a softer, tastier vegetable.

Dig up the tubers and remove the vine. Store the jicama in a cool, dark location between 50 and 60 degrees F for up to two months. Proper storage is key to preventing it from getting woody and tough.

To prepare jicama, rinse it and thoroughly peel the skin, which, just like the vines and foliage, is toxic.

How to Grow Jicama in Pots

If you don't have space in the garden, jicama can also be grown in pots with rich, well-draining potting soil. This is a great way to isolate your jicama plants from children and pets or to save space for other vegetables in your garden.

Use a large pot that gives each jicama vine at least 12 inches of space in either direction. Make sure the pot has excellent drainage, keeping in mind that jicama needs consistently wet (but not soggy) soil to thrive. Plastic, glazed ceramic, and terra-cotta pots are all great options. Terra-cotta, in particular, allows excess water to evaporate easier.

Greenhouses are the best option for growing jicama in containers and keeping adequate temperatures above 50 degrees F.

Because jicama completes its life cycle in one growing season, repotting the plant is not necessary.

Pruning

Jicama plants need regular pruning. Pinch the growth tips to encourage bushy, dense growth. Also, pinch any flower buds. If you miss any and they develop into flowers, deadhead the flowers promptly and never let them to seed. Removing flowers prevents the plants from expending valuable growing energy on anything but the roots.

Propagating Jicama

Propagating jicama from tubers yields a much earlier harvest than starting the plant from seed. Make sure to save some of the tubers from your plants for next season. Store them in a cool, dark place and plant them in late winter or spring, following the instructions for How to Plant Jicama above.

How to Grow Jicama From Seed

Propagating jicama from seed takes longer but it’s the better option for cool growing zones where you need to start jicama from seeds indoors approximately 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost date (or even earlier if your region's growing season is limited due to long winters). 

  1. Soak jicama seeds in water overnight.
  2. Fill 4-inch pots with moist potting mix or a seed-starting mixture.
  3. Plant at least two seeds about ½ inch deep.
  4. Place the pots under grow lights, on a warm, sunny windowsill, or in a greenhouse.
  5. Keep the soil evenly moist.
  6. Thin the seedlings—cut extra seedlings at ground level and leave only the strongest seedling in each pot.
  7. Gradually harden off the seedlings before transplanting them into larger pots or in garden soil.

Overwintering

Jicama is an annual crop whose life cycle ends with the onset of cold weather in the fall or winter.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Jicama is not prone to many pests and diseases. Potential pests include aphids and bean weevils.

Your jicama plants may experience root rot when overwatered, so do not oversaturate with water. Use pots with proper drainage when growing jicama in containers.

FAQ
  • Is jicama easy to grow?

    Growing jicama is similar to growing potatoes; this root vegetable is easy to grow for most gardeners. Jicama requires warm temperatures, full sunlight, and consistent watering to keep the soil moist (but not soggy).

  • How long does it take to grow a jicama plant?

    Jicama plants have a long growing season. From the time of planting seeds, it takes about nine months to harvest vegetables from your jicama plant.

  • Can jicama be grown in containers?

    Gardeners with limited space will be happy to learn that jicama plants can be grown in containers, so if your garden is full, you can still enjoy growing this vegetable organically at home. Start seedlings indoors in colder climates before transplanting them to larger containers outdoors in a sunny location.

  • What part of jicama are toxic?

    Like potatoes, any parts of jicama growing above the soil level are toxic. If you see any parts of the tubers exposed to the sun, cover them with soil, similar to growing potatoes. Only the peeled roots are safe for consumption.

  • Is jicama a Mexican potato?

    No, jicama is a different plant species. Although it is sometimes referred to as Mexican potato, it is in the legume family with a mild, lightly sweet, and slightly nutty taste.

  • Can you grow jicama from a store-bought jicama?

    Most likely not because those tubers have probably been treated so they won’t sprout, and also stored in conditions that are not conducive to starting a new plant. You’ll have more luck with fresh seeds or a tuber that is directly taken from a plant.

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  1. What is Jicama? Cleveland Clinic.

  2. Jicama in The Garden. Utah State University Extension.

  3. What is Jicama? Cleveland Clinic.