Cassava Plant Care - Information On How To Grow Cassavas

How to Grow Cassavas. Growing cassava yuca successfully relies upon tropical climates and at least eight months of warm weather. The plant prefers well-drained soil and modest rainfall, but it can survive where soils are wet. Cassava roots do not tolerate freezing temperatures and the best growth is in full sun.

How long does cassava take to grow?

Adaptation: Cassava is a tropical root crop, requiring at least 8 months of warm weather to produce a crop. However, under adverse conditions such as cool or dry weather it can take 18 or more months to produce a crop.

How long does it take cassava to mature for harvest?

It takes an average of 10-12 months — sometimes up to 24 months! — for farmers to harvest the roots; maize, rice, and potato's growth cycles span less than a third of that. In other words, farmers can grow cassava at most once a year, or, in some cases, every two years.

What is the life cycle of cassava?

The usual life span is 15 to 24 months depending on the cultivar, climate and soil conditions, but later tubers become fibrous and woody. Some quick growing cultivars can be harvested in 6-7 months so you can plant and harvest them twice a year. However, for good yields you must harvest after 9 to 12 months.

How do you grow and harvest cassava?

Once you discover a root, try massaging the dirt away from the root with your hands to expose it. Cut the root off where the neck tapers by the stem of the plant. Boil your cassava root and give it a taste test. If the taste and texture is favorable to you, you are ready for tapioca plant harvesting!

What is the best month to plant cassava?

-The planting is best be done at the beginning of the rainy season (October-November) or at the end of the rainy season (June-July), as cassava can be planted in a dry or wet soil. - While cassava can be harvested throughout the year, it is best harvested during the dry season so it can dry by sunlight.

How do you know when cassava is ready to harvest?

Generally, the cassava crop can be harvested after 6–18 months. However, each cassava variety has a specific maturity period. A good practice is to cut back the plants two weeks before harvesting, leaving only 8–10 inches of the stem protruding from the ground.

What is the best fertilizer for cassava?

Initially, cassava should be fertilized with equal amounts of N, phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) and potassium oxide (K2O) at a rate of 500 kg to 800 kg per ha of a compound fertilizer such as 15-15-15 or 16-16-16.

How much cassava will kill you?

However, cassava is poisonous unless it is peeled and thoroughly cooked. If it is eaten raw or prepared incorrectly, one of its chemical constituents will be attacked by digestive enzymes and give off the deadly poison cyanide. As little as two cassava roots can contain a fatal dose.

What is the correct spacing for cassava planting?

The optimal cassava plant spacing is 1 meter by 1 meter apart along each row and across ridges or mounds. The remaining space between the cassava plants can be used you grow vegetables, maize, legumes, and other plants.

Is Cassava annual or perennial?

Cassava is a perennial woody shrub, grown as an annual. Cassava is a major source of low cost carbohydrates for populations in the humid tropics.

Why is cassava dangerous?

Cassava may be dangerous if consumed raw, in large amounts or when it is prepared improperly. This is because raw cassava contains chemicals called cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide in the body when consumed ( 21 ).

What climate does cassava grow in?

Growing cassava yuca successfully relies upon tropical climates and at least eight months of warm weather. The plant prefers well-drained soil and modest rainfall, but it can survive where soils are wet. Cassava roots do not tolerate freezing temperatures and the best growth is in full sun.

Where is the cassava plant grown?

Cassava is one of the leading food and feed plants of the world. It ranks fourth among staple crops, with a global production of about 160 million tons per year. Most of this is grown in three regions: West Africa and the adjoining Congo basin, tropical South America and south and Southeast Asia.

What do cassava plants look like?

Cassava is a perennial plant with conspicuous, almost palmate (fan-shaped) leaves resembling those of the related castor-oil plant but more deeply parted into five to nine lobes. The fleshy roots are reminiscent of dahlia tubers. Different varieties range from low herbs to branching shrubs and slender unbranched trees.

Does cassava need lots of water to grow?

Cassava requires a certain amount of water daily to meet its crop water requirements [5]. Water is regarded as an intrinsic factor in any crop production as their function in food production, nutrient mineralisation and distribution, as well as plant turgidity in every crop production cannot be extremely emphasised.

What is the best way to plant cassava?

To plant cassava, push into the soil the end of the piece of stem that was nearer to the ground. Plant the cuttings in mounds or ridges. Plant when the soil is quite wet, after the beginning of the rainy season.

Is cassava farming profitable?

Cassava farming is a profitable agribusiness in Nigeria and is a source of livelihood for millions of farmers. Also, cassava serves as a primary staple food to over 800 million people worldwide. It is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics, after rice and maize.

Can cassava kill you?

But cassava is safe for human consumption after it's processed to remove the cyanide. ... If you've ever had tapioca, you've definitely had cassava root.” Too much tapioca won't kill you because it's been processed. But even a little uncooked cassava root can be lethal.

Can you grow cassava from the root?

Like potatoes, cassava is not usually grown from seeds except for breeding purposes. The only way most folks grow it is via stem cuttings. (Roots from the grocery store almost definitely won't work since they've been separated from the stem and dipped in wax.)

How do you propagate cassava?

Autumn is the time to propagate cassava and it's very easy to grow, using cuttings of old, mature brown wood.

Cut a number of stems approximately 30cm long.
Place them on the ground and cover lightly with soil or potting mix.
Keep them slightly moist and, over winter each node will sprout and produce a separate plant.