Manihot
esculenta, commonly known as cassava, tapioca, manioc or yuca, is a
milky-sapped tropical shrub that grows to 6-10′ tall. Although native to
Brazil, it has been planted as an annual root crop in tropical areas around the
world for harvest of its stout, elongated, tuberous roots from which cassava,
tapioca, starch and other food products are obtained. It features palmately
lobed, medium green leaves (typically 3-7 parted) with each leaf lobe growing
to 3-8″ long. Small, apetalous, greenish-white flowers (corolla is absent
but bell-shaped calyx is petal-like) in short terminal panicles bloom
throughout the year. Flowers are unisexual. Fruit is an ovoid 6-winged capsule.
The roots are poisonous. The roots contain toxic hydrocyanic acid which must be
removed prior to consumption. They have to be boiled to remove the toxins before
they can be eaten. Cultivated varieties are classed into two different groups:
bitter varieties (primarily grown for starch) and sweet varieties (primarily
grown as vegetable). Native to Brazil. Root
crop in tropical to semi-tropical areas. Foliage annual or container plant for
areas that are not frost-Fast.
Winter hardy to
USDA Zones 10-12 where best growth occurs in evenly moist, fertile, sandy,
well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Plants are evergreen in Zones
10-12. Plants may be grown in USDA Zones 8-9, but are intolerant of frost and
will die to the ground at the first fall/winter freeze, sprouting again in
spring. Plants generally require 8-9 months of frost-free weather in order to
produce roots worthy of harvest. Where not winter hardy, this plant may be
grown as an annual or in containers that are overwintered indoors.
Growing
Instructions for the Tapioca
The seeds have
a hard seed coat that has to be treated, or scarified, in order for water to
enter the seeds so that they can sprout. 1. Scarify the seeds by nicking or
sanding the seed coat. The seeds can be sanded with sandpaper, a nail file or
an emery board. 2. Soak the seeds in water for several hours. 3. Put a mixture
of potting soil and sand or perlite into a pot with drainage holes in the base.
The soil should be moist and well-drained. 4. Sow the seeds on the soil. 5.
Cover the seeds with a layer of soil that is 0.5 inches thick. 6. Water the
seeds. Keep the soil moist but not wet. 7. Place the seeds in an area that is
in part shade. 8. The seeds germinate in 24-50 days. 9. When the plants are a
few inches tall, they can be transplanted.
Zane (verified owner) –
The seeds had a great germination rate
Dominic (verified owner) –
I would absolutely recommend this seed to anyone looking to grow veggies this year. I decided to do starts this year and just three days after planting
Aadarsh (verified owner) –
They arrived very fresh and not bruised. They were delicious.
Nolan (verified owner) –
These seeds came right up and started producing squash. Can’t ask for more than that.
Robert (verified owner) –
Awesome product and company