GrowSabzHow to grow jicama in pots
Also called Mexican Turnip, Mexican Yam Bean, Mexican Potato, hikama · Pachyrhizus erosus
جیکاما
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 6–8hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 7.8 Levery 3 days, 60 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 20–30°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 60 L45 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 180–240days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 3 kgper 20 L pot
Jicama drinks far more than most container plants — about 1000 ml for every 10 litres of soil, and in hot weather it wants that every 2 days. Underestimate that and you get the classic result: a plant that looks healthy in the morning and wilts by afternoon.
Short answer
Grow jicama in a 60 litre container at least 45 cm deep, watering about 1000 ml per 10 litres of soil every 3 days, and keep temperatures between 20 and 30 °C. First harvest comes 180–240 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does jicama need?
60 litres and 45 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 60 L | 45 cm | Requires a very large pot with excellent drainage for good root development. |
| Grow bag | 60 L | 45 cm | Fabric bags promote air pruning and good drainage, ideal for large root crops. |
| Open ground | — | 60 cm | Needs ample space and deep, loose soil for optimal root growth. Provide a strong trellis. |
| Raised bed | 80 L | 50 cm | Excellent for providing deep, well-drained soil. Ensure bed is at least 50cm deep. |
Watering
How often should you water jicama?
Every 3 days through the growing season, at about 1000 ml per 10 litres of soil — every 2 days in hot weather, every 4 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Deep watering at the base works best.
Too little water
- wilting leaves
- stunted root development
- tougher roots
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- soft stem
- root rot
- stunted growth
Avoid: waterlogging; letting soil dry out completely; overhead watering in humid conditions.
Climate
Can you grow jicama where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 20 – 30 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | 10 – 35 °C |
| Germinates above | 20 °C — best at 25 °C, about 10 days |
| Flowers drop | above 32 °C, or below 18 °C |
| Sunlight | 6–10 hrs/day, best 8 |
| Frost | Highly sensitive — will not survive it |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 35 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for jicama? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Jicama growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for jicama
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why jicama fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 60 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Jicama wants about 1000 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 32 °C, or below 18 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Harvesting too late
Left too long the colour changes, seeds harden and the flavour sharpens. Pick on the signs listed below, not on the calendar.
- Planting it beside Potato
Competes heavily for underground space and nutrients, and can share similar soil-borne diseases.
- Leaving it out through a cold snap
Jicama is highly frost-sensitive. One night below 10 °C can end the plant outright — bring containers in or cover them.
Companions
What to plant with jicama
Good neighbours
Provides a natural trellis for the jicama vines to climb, offering support and maximizing vertical space.
Similar to corn, sunflowers offer sturdy stalks for jicama vines to climb, and their shade can help keep the soil cool.
Roots produce a chemical that kills root-knot nematodes, protecting jicama tubers from damage.
Breaks up compacted soil, improving aeration and drainage, which benefits the developing jicama tubers.
Acts as a living mulch, shading the soil, suppressing weeds, and helping to retain soil moisture around jicama plants.
Keep apart from
Competes heavily for underground space and nutrients, and can share similar soil-borne diseases.
Can inhibit the growth of jicama and other legumes, potentially stunting tuber development.
Similar to onions, garlic can release compounds that may hinder the growth of jicama plants.
While both are legumes, different bean varieties can attract specific pests like bean leaf beetles that may also target jicama.
Problems
Jicama pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and the undersides of leaves, sucking sap and weakening young plants.
Spider Mites humidity <50% · temp >27
Tiny pests that cause leaves to look stippled, pale, and eventually turn yellow and drop, especially in hot, dry conditions. Fine webbing may be visible.
Bean Leaf Beetles humidity any · temp 20-30
Small beetles that chew holes in leaves, especially on young plants. Can transmit bean pod mottle virus.
Whiteflies humidity >60% · temp >25
Tiny, white, winged insects that fly up when the plant is disturbed. They suck sap, weaken the plant, and can transmit viruses.
Powdery Mildew humidity 50-70% · temp 20-27
White, powdery fungal spots appear mainly on the upper surface of leaves. Can reduce photosynthesis and weaken the plant.
Root Rot humidity any · temp any
Caused by overwatering or poorly draining soil, leading to wilting, yellowing leaves, and soft, decaying roots. Fatal if not addressed.
Nematodes humidity any · temp any
Microscopic roundworms that attack plant roots, causing galls or lesions, leading to stunted growth and reduced tuber yield.
Poor Tuber Development humidity any · temp any
Tubers remain small or malformed, often due to insufficient phosphorus/potassium, excessive nitrogen, short growing season, or compacted soil.
Flower Drop humidity any · temp >35 or <15
Flowers dry up and fall off, often due to environmental stress like extreme temperatures, inconsistent watering, or if not removed by the gardener.
Harvest
When to harvest jicama
First picking falls between day 180 and day 240.
How to tell it's ready
- Vines start to yellow and die back
- Tubers are firm and large
How much to expect
Storing it: Store in a cool, dry, dark place (like a root cellar or pantry) at 12-16°C (54-61°F). Do not refrigerate.
Questions
Jicama: common questions
How long does jicama take to grow?
About 150 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 180 and day 240. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does jicama need?
At least 60 litres and 45 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 80 litres of soil and 50 cm of depth.
How often should I water jicama?
About 1000 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 3 days in normal weather — every 2 days when it is hot and every 4 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does jicama need?
It does best between 20 °C and 30 °C and survives from 10 °C to 35 °C. Seed needs soil above 20 °C to germinate, ideally around 25 °C.
Can I grow jicama in winter?
Not outdoors anywhere that frosts — it is highly frost-sensitive and will not survive it. In a frost-free winter it grows slowly; anywhere colder, treat it as a warm-season crop.
How do I know when jicama is ready to harvest?
Vines start to yellow and die back; Tubers are firm and large. Once picked: store in a cool, dry, dark place (like a root cellar or pantry) at 12-16°c (54-61°f). do not refrigerate.
How much does one jicama plant produce?
Roughly 3 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 6 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.