Monday, November 19, 2012

In which I show you how to harvest and process cassava.

Note: Cassava is my favorite plant. Ever.

At November 19, 2012 at 5:50 PM , Unknown said...: I love the Bob Ross bit!
I was wondering - can you leave some of the root in place, particularly that tougher center and side root, and then the plant return unharmed after a time? Can you plant a portion of the side roots and get a new plant? Or is it as good as dead?
At November 19, 2012 at 6:35 PM , David The Good said...: Thanks. And yes - you can leave it there. I've re-buried ones I yanked out of the ground and had them produce again. You could probably also rob the roots off the side without cutting down the plant. However, they produce really well from straight stem cuttings, of which you get many every time you harvest... hence the reason most people just chop it down and plant canes again.
At November 19, 2012 at 7:09 PM , Unknown said...: Oh great! That's what I wanted to know, was if the canes you chopped could be rooted or if there was some way to "carry on" the livelihood of the plant for future harvests. Thanks :)
At November 19, 2012 at 7:11 PM , David The Good said...: Sure thing.

I should do another video on planting them when I put out the next crop in spring. I wrote a column on it (to the right under the "Survival Plant Profiles" link) but a video is cooler.