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  • From: Ken Hargesheimer <minifarms2@yahoo.com>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Arracacha - where to find it?
  • Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:14:35 -0800 (PST)

o
GARDENS/MINI-FARMS NETWRK
USA:  TX,  MS, FL, CA, AR, NM, WA; México, Rep. Dominicana, Cote d’Ivoire,  Nigeria,
Honduras, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Haití, England, Nicaragua, India
minifarms@gmail.com
Workshops in organic, no-till, permanent-bed gardening, mini-farming, mini-ranching, using drip irrigation, in English & Español
 
http://www.insitu.org.pe/webinsitu/arracacha.htm
Arracacha is in Spanish with a variety of information.
http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/publications/pubfile.asp?ID_PUB=472
http://www.answers.com/topic/arracacha
Answers.com has its information on the vegetable and information regarding the origin and botanical history of it.
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Arracacha
Arracacha is information on the origina, description, and uses of this root.
http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/raiz_arracacha.htm
Arracacha appears to be a Peruvian site in Spanish on thsi plant.
http://www.cipotato.org/Projects/root-tuber/arraca.htm
Centro Internacional De La Papa has infomration on Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza). Also has the pocket guide http://www.cipotato.org/Market/ARTguide/artguide4.htm).
http://www.lamolina.edu.pe/Investigacion/programa/achira/
Universidad Nacional Agraria la Molina has information on arracacha and la achira.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arracacha
Wikipedia is the free encyclopedia with information on arracacha.

 

o
GARDENS/MINI-FARMS NETWRK
USA:  TX,  MS, FL, CA, AR, NM, WA; México, Rep. Dominicana, Cote d’Ivoire,  Nigeria,
Honduras, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Haití, England, Nicaragua, India
minifarms@gmail.com
Workshops in organic, no-till, permanent-bed gardening, mini-farming, mini-ranching, using drip irrigation, in English & Español
 
http://www.insitu.org.pe/webinsitu/arracacha.htm
Arracacha is in Spanish with a variety of information.
http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/publications/pubfile.asp?ID_PUB=472
http://www.answers.com/topic/arracacha
Answers.com has its information on the vegetable and information regarding the origin and botanical history of it.
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Arracacha
Arracacha is information on the origina, description, and uses of this root.
http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/raiz_arracacha.htm
Arracacha appears to be a Peruvian site in Spanish on thsi plant.
http://www.cipotato.org/Projects/root-tuber/arraca.htm
Centro Internacional De La Papa has infomration on Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza). Also has the pocket guide http://www.cipotato.org/Market/ARTguide/artguide4.htm).
http://www.lamolina.edu.pe/Investigacion/programa/achira/
Universidad Nacional Agraria la Molina has information on arracacha and la achira.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arracacha
Wikipedia is the free encyclopedia with information on arracacha.

 -------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.pfaf.org/database  is my favorite url for info on plants.  Ken Hargesheimer

Arracacha

Author
Bancr.
Botanical references
1
Family
Genus
Synonyms
Arracacia esculenta - DC.
Conium arracacia - Hook.
Known Hazards
None known
Range
Northern S. America
Habitat
Cool mountainous districts at elevations of 2000 - 3500 metres[2].
Edibility Rating
 3 (1-5)
Medicinal Rating
 0 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1m.
It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
The plant prefers medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds; South Wall By; West Wall By;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves; Root; Stem.
Edible Uses: Condiment.
Tuber - cooked[22, 46, 61, 97, 171]. Very palatable and easily digested[1, 196], it is used as a staple food in some parts of S. America[2]. The root contains 10 - 25% starch, it is high in calcium and vitamin A[196]. It is used as a potato substitute, its flavour is between that of parsnips and sweet chestnuts with a hint of sweetness[2, 183]. The sweetness increases in storage[196]. The root is also used as the source of starch used in other foods[183]. The roots are harvested in the autumn and have a relatively short storage life[196]. Leaves. Used as a flavouring[177]. Young stems - raw or cooked as a vegetable[183, 196]. The stems are sometimes blanched and used like celery in salads[196].

Cultivation details

Prefers a good loam. Grows best in a sandy loam with a pH in the range of 5 to 6, in areas with about 1000mm of rain a year, requiring a minimum rainfall of about 600mm[196]. Tolerates a pH in the range 6.3 to 6.8. This species is not very hardy in Britain but it can be grown here as a half-hardy perennial, the roots being harvested in the autumn, stored overwinter in a cool frost-free place and planted out in the spring[1]. This species is often cultivated for its edible root in S. America, where there are many named varieties[2, 46, 61, 177]. Attempts in the 19th century to cultivate it as a commercial crop in Europe, however, were unsuccessful[2]. Plants take about 120 - 240 days from planting to produce a crop and 300 - 400 days to produce a crop of mature tubers[196]. At harvest time there can be as many as 10 tubers each the size of a carrot formed around the central root196]. One plant can yield 2 - 3 kg of edible roots, total yields of 40 tonnes per hectare are possible[196]. Preventing the plant from flowering can increase yields[196]. Plants might be sensitive to daylength, possibly requiring short days to initiate tuber production, and so may not be suitable for temperate climates. They also have a longer growing season than potatoes and are frost-tender so need a relatively long growing season[196]. Plants do not always produce viable seed in S. America[196].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination is often poor, less than 50%[196]. Since this species is believed to be a hybrid it will probably not breed true from seed. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for the first year in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Division. Harvest the roots in the autumn, store overwinter and plant out in the spring. The plant forms a clump of tubers around a central root, each tuber can be used to grow a new plant. Traditionally the base of the tuber is repeatedly slashed to stimulate shoots to form and encourage a uniform arrangement of lateral roots. They are then left for a few days to heal before planting them out[196].
Tue May 29 2007
Seeds are not used for commercial production. The sprouts in the top of the roots must be used. The roots do not produce a new plant, as carrots also do not. I am a researcher of arracacha at Brazil. ariajbsgsmm@yahoo.com.br
 
 http://www.pfaf.org/database   is my favorite url for info on plants.  One url said [in Spanish] that it grows from 600 m. elevation and up. 

 

 Ken Hargesheimer

 

Arracacha

Author
Bancr.
Botanical references
1
Family
Genus
Synonyms
Arracacia esculenta - DC.
Conium arracacia - Hook.
Known Hazards
None known
Range
Northern S. America
Habitat
Cool mountainous districts at elevations of 2000 - 3500 metres[2].
Edibility Rating
 3 (1-5)
Medicinal Rating
 0 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1m.
It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
The plant prefers medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds; South Wall By; West Wall By;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves; Root; Stem.
Edible Uses: Condiment.
Tuber - cooked[22, 46, 61, 97, 171]. Very palatable and easily digested[1, 196], it is used as a staple food in some parts of S. America[2]. The root contains 10 - 25% starch, it is high in calcium and vitamin A[196]. It is used as a potato substitute, its flavour is between that of parsnips and sweet chestnuts with a hint of sweetness[2, 183]. The sweetness increases in storage[196]. The root is also used as the source of starch used in other foods[183]. The roots are harvested in the autumn and have a relatively short storage life[196]. Leaves. Used as a flavouring[177]. Young stems - raw or cooked as a vegetable[183, 196]. The stems are sometimes blanched and used like celery in salads[196].

Cultivation details

Prefers a good loam. Grows best in a sandy loam with a pH in the range of 5 to 6, in areas with about 1000mm of rain a year, requiring a minimum rainfall of about 600mm[196]. Tolerates a pH in the range 6.3 to 6.8. This species is not very hardy in Britain but it can be grown here as a half-hardy perennial, the roots being harvested in the autumn, stored overwinter in a cool frost-free place and planted out in the spring[1]. This species is often cultivated for its edible root in S. America, where there are many named varieties[2, 46, 61, 177]. Attempts in the 19th century to cultivate it as a commercial crop in Europe, however, were unsuccessful[2]. Plants take about 120 - 240 days from planting to produce a crop and 300 - 400 days to produce a crop of mature tubers[196]. At harvest time there can be as many as 10 tubers each the size of a carrot formed around the central root196]. One plant can yield 2 - 3 kg of edible roots, total yields of 40 tonnes per hectare are possible[196]. Preventing the plant from flowering can increase yields[196]. Plants might be sensitive to daylength, possibly requiring short days to initiate tuber production, and so may not be suitable for temperate climates. They also have a longer growing season than potatoes and are frost-tender so need a relatively long growing season[196]. Plants do not always produce viable seed in S. America[196].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination is often poor, less than 50%[196]. Since this species is believed to be a hybrid it will probably not breed true from seed. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for the first year in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Division. Harvest the roots in the autumn, store overwinter and plant out in the spring. The plant forms a clump of tubers around a central root, each tuber can be used to grow a new plant. Traditionally the base of the tuber is repeatedly slashed to stimulate shoots to form and encourage a uniform arrangement of lateral roots. They are then left for a few days to heal before planting them out[196].
Tue May 29 2007
Seeds are not used for commercial production. The sprouts in the top of the roots must be used. The roots do not produce a new plant, as carrots also do not. I am a researcher of arracacha at Brazil. mariajbsgsmm@yahoo.com.br
 



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