Yuca aka Cassava Plant Cuttings

Yuca aka Cassava Plant Cuttings – Ready to Plant, Fresh 8–12” Stems for Tropical Gardens
Manihot esculenta

Listing is for a set of 5 yuca aka cassava cuttings. They range from 8 to 12 inches long, or about 8 to 10 leaf nodes. 

MUST BE PLANTED IN SOIL IMMEDIATELY

If there is no threat of frost/cold - then its ok to plant outside.

If you are expecting cold, or its fall or winter time - plant 1 cutting in a 1 gallon pot filled with compost or potting mix to root. Keep it in a warm spot, preferably indoors. Plant outside once all danger of frost has passed in spring. 

Yuca, also known as cassava, is a tropical root crop prized for its resilience, productivity, and delicious starchy tubers. It cannot be grown from seed—you can only propagate it from stem cuttings—making these fresh, 8–12 inch cuttings the essential starting point for growing your own cassava at home. Hot-climate gardeners love yuca because it thrives in heat, humidity, and sandy or poor soils, making it one of the easiest and most rewarding tropical root crops to grow. These cuttings must be planted in soil right away. You can plant them directly in the ground if your weather is warm, or place a single cutting into a 1-gallon pot filled with compost or potting mix so it can root before transplanting outdoors. Make sure you plant each cutting with the little bud inbetween the leaf node and stem, facing upward or the cutting will not root and it will die. Plant half the stem piece in the soil, with the other half above ground. 

If purchased during fall or winter, do not plant outside. Instead, plant each cutting in a pot and keep it indoors or in a warm, frost-free area so it can root. Once all danger of frost has passed, the young plants can be moved outdoors. Cassava is only cold-hardy to zones 9 and up, as it is a true tropical plant. Under the right conditions, each mature plant can produce 8 to 12 pounds of roots in about 12 months time. I don’t know the exact variety of this yuca, but it has been grown in my family garden for many years. We plant cuttings in March here in Florida, watering regularly until rainy season begins in June, then we let nature take over until harvest the following March. Occasionally, storms knock down mature plants in the fall or winter, allowing me to offer cuttings outside the usual planting window—so availability may vary throughout the year.

How long will it take to start harvesting? Approximately 1 year after planting 

Ideal Growing Conditions
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9B and up

Height/width at maturity: Yuca aka cassava plants grow very tall on a thin main stem. Ours often get around 15FT tall. 

Sun: Grows best in full sun

Soil: grows best in loamy soil heavy in composted organic matter. But is ok in poor soils. You will get better root production in soils that are full of organic matter. 

Water: Monitor young plants and keep consistent water. If the bottom most leaves turn yellow and fall off - the plant either needs water or its too cold outside. Consistent water yields better quality roots. 

Fertilizer: Fertilize in spring and early summer to encourage new growth and help the roots get established. Fertilization is not required though but helps get better production. 

Harvest: It will take 1 year to harvest the roots. At that time take new cuttings and plant a new crop.