Plant jicama from seed after frost, once the soil is warm. Sow one inch deep, about eight to twelve inches apart.
Sow after frost, one inch deep, about eight to twelve inches apart
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | After the last frost, when the soil is warm | Do not sow into cold, wet ground |
| Depth | About one inch | Do not bury the seed several inches down |
| Spacing | Eight to twelve inches in the row, with two to three feet between rows | Do not crowd plants a few inches apart |
| Seed | Fresh garden seed, soaked overnight if the coat is hard | Do not count on a grocery root as your only start |
Sow jicama like a bean, not from a cut tuber. The usual start is seed in warm soil. [1] Set plants eight to ten inches apart in the row, with two to three feet between rows so you can still work the bed. [2] If you are setting out transplants instead of direct-sowing, wait until the weather and the soil have warmed, then space them about a foot apart. [3]
- Wait until frost is over and the soil has warmed. Cold, wet ground rots the seed.
- Soak the seed overnight if the coat is hard, then sow about one inch deep.
- Space plants eight to twelve inches apart in the row, with two to three feet between rows.
- Water once to settle the soil, then keep the surface just moist until the seedlings are up.
- Put the trellis in now, before the vine runs.
Can I plant a grocery jicama root?
Seed is the reliable start. A small whole root sometimes sprouts and is ready sooner, but grocery roots are often stored cold and may not grow. [4]
Start seed indoors if your warm season is short
Where frost-free weather will not last five to nine months, start seed indoors about eight to ten weeks before you can transplant, in deep pots or biodegradable cells so you disturb the root as little as possible.
- Sow one seed per deep cell, about one inch deep, and keep the mix warm.
- Give the seedlings bright light so they stay stocky.
- Harden them off for about a week once nights stay mild.
- Set each plant at the same depth it grew in the cell, eight to twelve inches apart, and water it in.
Summer sun and watering stay on How to Grow Jicama.
Sow after frost, one inch deep and about a foot apart, or start the seed indoors if your warm season is short.
FAQ
Do I need to soak jicama seed?
It helps if the seed coat is hard. Sow the same day you soak, about one inch deep, in warm soil.
Can I grow jicama from cuttings?
Not as the usual crop. Sow seed. A small storage root is an occasional shortcut, not a stem cutting.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Urban Farmer -
https://www.ufseeds.com/pages/how-to-grow-jicama - [2] UC ANR Small Farms Network -
https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-small-farms-network/jicama - [3] Bonnie Plants -
https://bonnieplants.com/blogs/how-to-grow/growing-jicama - [4] UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions -
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/jicama/
This note is part of Pachyrhizus Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors