Mostly grown for its edible roots, this perennial is an attractive ornamental.
The tuberous root is a popular starchy carbohydrate food source in South Africa and Southeast Asia.
In its uncooked state, the roots of cassava are toxic to humans and pets.
The Spruce / Gyscha Rendy
The plant needs at least eight months of warm weather to produce a crop.
Selecting a Planting Site
Give cassava a location withfull sunand deep, fertile, and moist soil.
Cassava is a large plant so verify it has ample room to grow.
The Spruce / Gyscha Rendy
Placing the cuttings upright (vertically) is preferred over horizontal planting because it helps prevent root rot.
Cassava does not require any support.
Cassava Plant Care
Cassava requires a frost-free growing season of at least eight months.
The Spruce / Gyscha Rendy
Plant it in a sunny location with well-draining soil.
In these instances, a partial shade environment would be better.
For best results, however, a sandy,loamy soilworks well.
The Spruce / Gyscha Rendy
Some cultivars, however, are more drought-tolerant than others, so you should do your research before planting.
Temperature and Humidity
To ensure a good crop year-round, cassava needs a frost-free climate.
The plants don’t tend to do well in temperatures below 60 or above 85F.
Fertilizer
The fertilization requirements of cassava are similar to those of thesweet potato.
The fertilizer should be higher in potassium to prevent elongated, straggly roots.
If you intend to harvest the leaves, a fertilizer with more nitrogen will work better.
Sweet vs.
Bitter Cassava
There are sweet and bitter cassava varieties.
The amount of HCN determines whether it is bitter or sweet.
Low HCN means sweetness.
Plants are identified as bitter or sweet by their taste and smell.
When planting cassava for consumption, see to it it is a sweet variety with low HCN content.
The harvest time depends on how large you want the roots to be.
The plant will regrow after its winter dormancy, which typically lasts two to three months.
Handle cassava gently as it bruises easily.
Keep it in a cool, dry place but not in the refrigerator.
For longer storage, peel it, cut it into pieces, and freeze it.
because it is much smaller than the species, reaching a height of 2.5 to 3 feet.
Use a large container, at least 1 foot in diameter, and fill it with well-draining potting mix.
check that the container has large drainage holes.
Potted cassava needs more frequent watering and fertilization than cassava in the garden.
Repot the plant to a larger container with fresh potting mix when the roots have filled the container.
If you dont use the foliage, the plant benefits from light pruning to prevent it from becoming leggy.
Propagating Cassava
Cassava is commonly propagated from cuttings, not seeds.
Plant them after the last frost in the spring.
Overwintering
If cassava is grown in a frost-free zone, it does not need winter protection.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Cassava is not often affected by serious diseases or pests.
The plants may get mosaic virus and bacterial diseases.
Potential pests include locusts, beetles, and aphids.
Yuccaand cassava are different plants and not related in any way.
Cassava is often associated with yucca because another common name for cassava is yuca.
Due to its extensive root system and considerable size, cassava is not a good plant to keep indoors.
The only exception is the smaller, variegated form, also known as variegated tapioca.
Cassava must be cooked to make it edible.
The roots are boiled, roasted, turned into flour, or used to produce tapioca.
The leaves are boiled.
