Yam
Yam is a vegetable in the Dioscoreaceae family. It grows best in full sun with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 9-11. Plants reach harvest about 270–365 days after planting and sit about 12 inches apart.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Yam270–365 days
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Tuber (not currently in seed catalog). Use: Large starchy edible tubers (distinct from sweet potato). Harvest: Lift tubers 9-12 months after planting.
True Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a tropical climbing vine grown for its large, starchy underground tubers - botanically unrelated to the sweet potato often labeled 'yam' in the US. Grown from tuber pieces (setts); needs a long, frost-free season. Hardy zones 9-11.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Dioscorea spp.|Hardiness zones: 9-11|Propagation: tubers/setts|Sun needs: Full sun|Water needs: Medium|Mature height: 10+ feet (vine)|Spacing: 12 inches|Harvest: Lift tubers 9-12 months after planting
Plant spacing
In a square-foot bed, space yam about 12 in apart — that fits 1 plant in each 1-foot square (1×1). Wider rows or containers space the same.
Plan your yam planting
Add yam to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →At a glance
Storing & preserving
Most keep best refrigerated; storage crops prefer a cool, dry spot.
- Freeze: Blanch briefly, cool, then freeze — keeps color and texture.
- Can: Pressure-can low-acid vegetables; water-bath only pickled/acidified ones.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for yam yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.