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Cassava
Manioth esculenta
Plant stalks and roots, vertically or horizontally, in the summer months, April to June. Space approximately one foot apart. It is important to water often, yet the soil must be well-drained to avoid rotting the root. Fertilizer will boost growth, and the plant can reach 20 feet high. The roots can grow long and thick, and some may take up to 11 months to fully mature. Leaves can be harvested as needed. Roots are not well-suited for storage and should be used relatively fresh. The stalk and stem are frost sensitive. Cuttings for propagation should be harvested before the first frost. Roots left in the ground over winter will likely send out new stalks in the spring. To Plan, a heritage garden, download the ‘Planning a Florida Heritage Garden (PDF).’
Page written by Val Leitner and edited by Sarah Cervone with content contributed by Diana Dominguez in HUM2461: Latin American Humanities.
Learn more about Santa Fe College and the Florida Heritage Foods Project.
Funding for the Florida Heritage Foods Initiative: Connecting Local Food with Local Culture in Florida Farmers Markets was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant Agreement Number 21FMPPFL1026-00. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.