Story: Growing To Lose Weight
Episode: 9
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 10 May 2025

Yacon is a low-maintenance, easy-to-grow Peruvian plant with sweet, juicy tubers that aid natural weight loss and blood sugar control, and now’s the perfect time to harvest and replant for a fresh spring crop!

• Yacon tubers contain a special non-soluble fiber that binds to sugars in the digestive tract, reducing blood sugar spikes and aiding in weight loss — eating just 60g fresh daily may help shed 1–2 kg per month!
• In autumn, harvest sweet, juicy tubers for the kitchen (tasting like apple-pear with a hint of earthiness) and keep the rhizomes — these become next season's plants.
• A hardy, herbaceous perennial from Peru, Yacon thrives in full sun and free-draining soil. Perfect for garden beds or large pots — especially where soil drainage is poor.
• Grow new plants from rhizomes, tubers, or even stem cuttings placed in potting mix. Super easy and beginner-friendly!
• Now (autumn) is the ideal time across Australia to divide and replant rhizomes so they’re ready to thrive come spring warmth (over 24°C).
• Minimal pests, loves organic feeds (like potato D/E manure in spring and summer), and contributes to reduced weight and blood sugar naturally.