Yam Growing

Yam Growing : A Beginners Guide

Ever wondered how yams end up on your plate? You might be surprised to know that growing them isn’t rocket science. With a bit of patience, some good soil, and a love for digging in the dirt, you can grow your own yams right at home. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about yam growing in a super friendly, simple way. Let’s get our hands dirty .

What is Yam ?

First off, let’s clear something up. When we say “yam,” we’re talking about the tuber from the Dioscorea genus, not sweet potatoes they get called yams in some places, but they’re not the same. Real yams are starchy, have rough, scaly skin, and grow mostly in tropical and subtropical regions.

There are about 600 different types of yams, but just a few are widely farmed for food.Some popular ones include:

• White Yam (Dioscorea rotundata)

• Yellow Yam (Dioscorea cayenensis)

• Water Yam (Dioscorea alata)

Now that we know what we’re dealing with, let’s dig into how to grow them.

1. Yam Growing: Choosing the Right Spot

Yams love warm, humid environments. They need a long growing season about 8–11 months, so they’re ideal for areas that don’t get too cold.

Pick a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Heavy clay or waterlogged areas? Nope, yams don’t like wet feet.

Pro tip: Yams are climbers. If you’ve got space for a trellis or stakes, even better. They’ll appreciate the support.

2. Yam Growing: Prepping the Soil

Yams aren’t too picky, but they thrive in loose, fertile, sandy loam. The soil should be deep because yam tubers grow downwards.

Here’s what you can do to prep your land:

• Clear the area: Remove weeds and debris.
• Till the soil: Break up the dirt to at least 12 inches depth.
• Add compost or manure: Organic matter makes a big difference.
• Make ridges or mounds: Yams do well when grown on raised beds.

3. Yam Growing: Getting Planting Material

You don’t use seeds to grow yams. Instead, you plant pieces of yam tuber, known as yam setts.

You can cut a yam into pieces, each with a bit of skin and at least one “eye” (growing point). Or you can use the small whole tubers, especially from previous harvests.

Allow the chopped pieces to dry for a day or two before planting. This helps avoid rot.

4. Yam Growing: How to Plant Yams

Timing:

Plant when the rainy season is just starting. In most tropical regions, this is around March to May.

Method:

• Spacing: Plant yam setts about 3–4 feet apart. They need space to spread.
• Depth: Bury the sett 8-10 inches deep, with the eye pointing upward.
• Staking: After about a month, you’ll notice vines popping up. Support them with sticks or trellises.

Yams are sluggish starters, so don’t be concerned if they appear lethargic at first.

5. Yam Growing: Caring for Your Yams

Here’s the part where a little love goes a long way:

Weeding:

Keep the plot weed-free, especially in the first 2–3 months. Weeds compete with your yams for nutrients and space.

Mulching:

Mulch the plants with dried grass or leaves. It promotes moisture retention and weed management.

Watering:

If rainfall is regular, no need to water often. But if it’s dry, give them a good soak every now and then. Don’t overdo it—remember, yams hate soggy soil.

Fertilizing:

If your soil is rich, you may not require much. But a light dose of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizer midway through the season can give them a boost.

6. Yam Growing: Pest and Disease Management

Yams are relatively hardy, but they do have some enemies:

Common pests:

• Nematodes: These microscopic worms attack the roots.
• Yam beetles: They bore into the tubers.

Common diseases:

• Anthracnose: Causes dark spots on leaves and vines.
• Tuber rot: This occurs when the soil is overly damp or when you plant infected setts.

How to fight back:

• Rotate crops yearly to reduce pest buildup.
• Use clean, healthy planting material.
• Practice good field hygiene—remove old vines and weeds.
• If things get bad, consider using safe pesticides or biological control like neem extract.

7. Yam Growing: Harvesting Time

After about 8–11 months, it’s showtime! You’ll notice the leaves yellowing and dying back—that’s your cue.

Use a digging fork or hoe to gently lift the tubers. Be careful not to damage them. Damaged yams don’t store well.

Allow them to dry in the shade for several days. This helps toughen the skin and makes them store better.

8. Yam Growing: Storing Yams

Keep yams in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Don’t store them in plastic bags—they’ll sweat and rot.

You can also leave them in a yam barn or stack them in crisscross patterns to allow airflow.

Properly stored, yams can last several months. Just check them every now and again to see if any are starting to spoil.

9. Yam Growing: Propagation for the Next Season

Save some healthy tubers or small ones called seed yams for next year. Store them just like eating yams.

When the next planting season rolls around, cut them into setts again and start fresh.

10. Bonus Tips and Common Mistakes

Tips:

• Label different yam varieties if you’re planting more than one type.
• Always use healthy setts—never plant rotten or moldy ones.
• Rotate yams with legumes to improve soil fertility.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Overwatering
• Planting too deep or too shallow
• Ignoring staking—it makes harvesting harder and reduces yields

Final Thoughts

Growing yams might take some time and muscle, but it’s incredibly rewarding. There’s just something special about digging up your own food. If you have a backyard, a farm, or even a tiny garden plot, give yam cultivation a try. It’s one of those old-school skills that still makes a lot of sense today.

References

1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
3. Crop Protection Compendium, CABI
4. Eke-Okoro, O.N., & Njoku, J.C. (1990). Yam Production and Post-Harvest Technology in Nigeria. NRCRI.
5. Onwueme, I.C. (1978). The Tropical Tuber Crops: Yams, Cassava, Sweet Potato, and Cocoyams. Wiley.