Also known as cassava, yuca, or tapioca, manioc is one of the most important staple foods in the world, though most people in the United States and Europe are unfamiliar with it. It is, however, cultivated throughout the tropical world and consumed in many non-western nations. Its versatility and the ease with which the plant is cultivated make it an important food crop. In fact, in terms of volume consumed world wide, it is second only to the sweet potato. The manioc must be cooked properly to detoxify it before it is eaten and can be used in dumplings, soups, stews and gravies.
The cuttings are approximately 5" - 7" in length and 1/2" - 1" thick. These plants grow very tall over time, You can cut the plants back and they will continue growing. I find they are the easiest plant to grow in a tropical environment because they don't need any care or attention. Plant them vertically with the growth nodes facing up.
Cassava will grow in any warm climate, including indoors as a potted plant. Planting is fairly simple. You want to use cutting that are bigger than one cm thick and woody colored(no green). They don’t need to have sprouts coming out, but they do need to have the nodules/nubs on them. All methods seem to work and depending on rainfall, breeds, and other climate factors, some may work better than others.
Cassava Plant Care
Cassava plants produce huge ornamental lobed leaves. They can thrive in the summer as an annual in most regions of the United States. Warmer temperatures promote the most rapid growth. There are several chewing pests that cause foliage damage but, otherwise, cassavas are relatively disease and pest free. Good cassava plant care should include the use of a slow release fertilizer in spring. Keep the plants moderately moist. To preserve the plant, move it to a pot indoors before freezing temperatures. Overwinter cassava in a warm, well-lit location and transplant outside when soils heat back up.
After 7-10 days with a little water, you should see sprouts coming up. Harvest a year or so after planting and enjoy! Then, keep your cutting and plant again.
One of the coolest things about this crop is that it has a very flexible harvest time. If you need to wait a couple of months to finish eating your last cassava harvest, you can wait. Yuca plants are like nature’s food pantry. No canning required. Cassava root also has more than double the carbohydrates per gram compared to potatoes. For these reason, cassava is one of our top survival garden plants. Around 2 years after planting, depending on the variety, cassava can become woody and difficult to eat.
Harvesting and preparation:
Once you pull the plant up, you can cut the roots off carefully with a knife. Peel the roots and boil before eating. The roots MUST be cooked for 20 minutes to remove the cyanide. My favorite way of preparing yuca is to boil the roots until they are soft (poke with a fork to test) and make yuca with mojo, a classic Cuban dish.
Nutrition:
Yuca is a calorie-dense food that is high in carbohydrates, potassium, vitamin C, and also contains magnesium, vitamin b6 and dietary fiber.
