Yam.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Media

Tipo de planta

Tuberous perennial vine

Luz

Full sun to partial shade

Luz en interior

Luz indirecta brillante

Riego

Cada 2 a 4 días

Tamaño adulto

3 to 10 meters

Ritmo de crecimiento

Rápido

Rusticidad

USDA 9 a 12

Floración

Mid to late summer

Cuidados

Provide a sturdy trellis for the vines to climb as they grow rapidly during the season. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to prevent tuber rot. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate poor drainage or nutrient issues.

Riego

Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season.

Abonado

Apply a balanced fertilizer monthly during the active growing phase.

Poda

Trim back dead or damaged vines to encourage healthy growth.

Trasplante

Repot or replant tubers annually at the start of the new growing season.

Suelo

Well draining, fertile, loamy soil

pH del suelo

5.5 to 6.5

Temperatura

15 a 35°C

Humedad

60 a 90%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Baja

Longevidad

Perennial, typically grown as an annual crop

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Moderada

Seguridad

Personas

Raw tubers contain substances that can cause irritation and are considered toxic if not properly prepared.

Niños

Keep tubers out of reach of children, as raw ingestion can cause severe mouth and throat irritation.

Alérgenos por contacto

Handling raw tubers can cause skin irritation due to the presence of calcium oxalate raphides.

Alérgenos en el aire

There are no significant reports of respiratory allergies associated with this plant.

Comestibilidad

The tubers must be cooked thoroughly before consumption to neutralize calcium oxalate crystals and other compounds.

Cómo identificarla

• Heart shaped, opposite leaves
• Square, winged stems
• Large, underground starchy tubers
• Small, inconspicuous flowers
• Vining growth habit

Altura

3 a 10m

Anchura

0,5 a 2m

Hojas

green, deciduous

Flores

white, yellow, 0,5 a 1cm

Frutos

brown, Late autumn to winter

Problemas frecuentes

• Yam mosaic virus — Causes leaf mottling and stunted growth.
• Scale insects — Sucking insects that weaken the vine.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

tuber division, bulbils

Cuándo plantar

Spring

Cuidados en invierno

In cooler climates, dig up the tubers after the first frost and store them in a cool, dry, dark place until spring.

En maceta

It can be grown in large containers of at least 20 liters, provided you have a tall trellis for the vines.

Use tall, sturdy plants as living trellises to save space and provide support for the vigorous vines.

Buenas compañeras

• Maíz — Provides a natural trellis for the yam vines to climb.
• Judía común — Fixes nitrogen in the soil to support the heavy feeding yam.

Especies parecidas

• Dioscorea rotundata — A closely related species also grown for its edible tubers.

Ciencia

Familia

Dioscoreaceae

Género

Dioscorea

Orden

Dioscoreales

Clase

Liliopsida

Distribución natural

Tropical Southeast Asia

Conservación

This species is widely cultivated and not currently of conservation concern.

It thrives in warm, humid tropical environments and climbs using twining stems to reach sunlight.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source

Polinizadores

abejas, escarabajos

Usos

food crop, ornamental vine

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Can I grow this in a pot?

Yes, but you need a very large container to accommodate the large tuber growth.

When do I harvest?

Harvest when the foliage begins to yellow and die back in late autumn.

De dónde viene el nombre

The genus name honors the ancient Greek physician Dioscorides, while the species name alata refers to the winged stems.

Bueno saberlo

• It is also known as the greater yam or purple yam.
• The plant produces aerial tubers called bulbils that can also be used for propagation.
• It is a significant crop in the Philippines where it is called ube.
• The vines can grow quite long, often requiring sturdy trellising.