Yellow Guinea yam

Where does Yellow Guinea yam grow?

Found in: Africa, Antilles, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central America, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Madagascar, Mali, New Caledonia, Nigeria, Pacific, Panama, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Togo, Trinidad, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia

Notes: There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Status: It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Important in West Africa and now in some places in the West Indies.

Growing Yellow Guinea yam

Cultivation: Tubers do not become dormant when they are mature. They cannot therefore be stored for long times and must be eaten or replanted. The tubers can be removed leaving the top part in the ground and another crop of tubers will be produced meaning it can be harvested throughout the year. Most commonly the head of the tuber is used for replanting. The tuber can be cut into setts and the different parts used. A spacing of 1.2 m between plants is considered suitable. Tubers are often planted in fairly wide deep holes.

Edible Uses: The tuber is cooked and eaten. It is roasted, boiled or fried. A tea is made from the leaves.

Production: Growth of the yam is almost continuous. It takes almost 12 months to reach maturity. In areas of good rainfall it gives good yields. Tubers can weigh between 2 and 10 kg. Yields of 30 t per ha are achievable.

Nutrition Info

References

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