🥦 True Yam
Dioscorea species (D. rotundata, D. alata, D. cayenensis)
vegetables
perennial climbing vine (grown for tuber)
☀️ Sun
full sun
💧 Water
moderate, consistent during growing season
🗺️ Zones
9, 12 (6, 10 month growing season)
🧪 Soil pH
5.5-7.0
🪴 Soil Type
well-draining, deep, fertile, loose
🚿 Drainage
Well-drained
📏 Spacing
36-48 in. apart, 48-60 in. between rows (vine; needs staking/trellis)
⏱️ Maturity
180-270 days (from planting setts); 6-9 months depending on variety and climate
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ Pounded yam (fufu), boiled, roasted, fried, yam porridge, flour
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (5)
Cassava's sturdy stems support yam vines while cassava's deep tubers and yam's shallow-rooted vines occupy different soil zones with minimal competition.
Pigeon peas serve as living trellises for yam vines while fixing nitrogen into soil , a traditional African intercropping system benefiting both crops.
Bananas provide shade and wind protection for young yam plants; yams use banana pseudostems as climbing support in this classic tropical polyculture.
Corn provides sturdy living stakes for true yam's vigorous climbing vines; yam's deep roots break up subsoil while corn's shallow roots feed near the surface.
🤝 trellis crops
NOT sweet potato, true yams are Dioscorea species, staple in Africa. Vigorous climbing vine needing strong support. Traditional intercropped with corn and cassava. Tubers can reach 100+ lbs.
⚠️ Keep Apart (1)
⚠️ small plants smothered by vines
Growth inhibition or competition
📝 Growing Notes
NOT sweet potato, true yams are Dioscorea species, staple in Africa. Vigorous climbing vine needing strong support. Traditional intercropped with corn and cassava. Tubers can reach 100+ lbs.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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