Cassava plant care – Information about cassava cultivation
As the Bard says, «What’s in a name?» There is an important distinction in the spelling and meaning of many similar words. Take, for example, yucca and yucca. Both are plants, but one has an agricultural and nutritional meaning, while the other is an insoluble desert organism. The absence of a «c» in a name only highlights a difference between cassava and yucca. Read on to find out why cassava is a global food source and an important economic crop.
Are cassava and manioc the same thing?
Yuccas are flowering and perennial plants that have a remarkable tolerance to dry and arid regions. They are found in the family of lilies or agaves and they usually grow in rosettes of thorny leaves that grow from a central trunk that has been gathered up. Ancient civilizations and more modern indigenous populations feed on cassava roots. This is one of the similarities that the plant has with cassava.
Cassava ( Manihot esculenta ) is also known as yucca and is an important plant in the region.
because of its starchy roots. They contain 30% starch and are rich in carbohydrates. Cassava roots are prepared and eaten like potatoes. Cassava is native to Brazil and Paraguay, but many other countries are now learning to grow it.
So, are cassava and manioc the same plant? No. They are not even related, and they prefer different growing climates. The only similarities are the close name and the use of the roots as a food source.
How to grow casavas
The success of cassava cultivation depends on the tropical climate and at least eight months of warm weather.
The plant prefers well-drained soil with modest rainfall, but it can survive where the soil is moist. The roots of cassava do not tolerate freezing temperatures and the best growth is in full sun.
Cassava cultivation, from the beginning to the end of the harvest, can take up to 18 months. The plants are made from propagules made from parts of mature stems. They are cuttings of 2 to 3 cm with several germination nodes along their length. Place the prepared cuttings in a pot and keep them slightly misted in a sunny place.
Grow the cuttings indoors until the outside temperature is at least 70 F. (21 C.). Grow back outside when the cuttings have germinated and are at least 2 cm long.
Cassava plant care
- Cassava plants produce huge, lobed ornamental leaves. They can thrive in summer as an annual in most parts of the United States. Warmer temperatures promote faster growth.
- There are several chewing pests that cause foliage damage, but otherwise cassavas are relatively free of disease and pests.
- To take good care of the cassava plant, a slow-release fertilizer should be used in the spring. Keep the plants moderately moist.
- To preserve the plant, place it in a pot indoors before temperatures freeze. Place the cassava in a warm, well-lit place and move it outside when the ground warms up again.
