Jicama is a tree that takes about 150 days to establish — a planting measured in decades, not seasons. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 12 and stands up to deer. Its flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the root is the prize. A nitrogen-fixer, it draws nitrogen from the air and feeds it back to the soil — turn it under or leave the roots in place, and the next planting inherits a richer bed.
Zones
9-12
pH Range
4.3-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
150
Score Jicama on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether jicama actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score jicama against your land's real conditions.
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What Jicama is
Jicama reaches around 15 feet at maturity. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Jicama
Jicama grows in USDA zones 9 through 12 and takes about 150 days to begin bearing. Jicama does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.3 to 8. It needs around 3,500 growing degree days to mature, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
9-12
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.3 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
59°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
150 days
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
3500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
15 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set jicama in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Jicama prefers pH 4.3 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band. It fixes its own nitrogen, so skip the high-nitrogen feed and instead dust the seed with a matching rhizobium inoculant at sowing.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Be patient, then harvest
Jicama takes about 150 days to its first meaningful harvest (University Extension production guides). Prune annually while it establishes, and the tree will then crop for years.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — jicama isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Jicama offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Jicama thrives
Jicama is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 12. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 9–12·Where Jicama growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Jicama can grow in these states:
See if Jicama will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether jicama actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Jicama in my zone?
Jicama grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 12 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long until Jicama bears fruit?
Jicama typically takes about 150 days after planting to bear its first real crop, then produces for years (University Extension production guides). Soil, climate, and rootstock all shift the timeline.
When should you plant Jicama?
Set jicama out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Jicama need?
Jicama needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Jicama need?
Jicama prefers soil pH 4.3 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Jicama attract pollinators?
Yes — jicama's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Jicama safe for pets?
Jicama is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.