Cassava
Manihot esculenta
Cassava is a tall, hardy shrub grown for its starchy roots, a staple food in Kerala and much of the tropics. It tolerates poor soil and drought and is easily grown from stem pieces.
Photo: O Tupinólogo · CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Low
Water young plants regularly; established plants tolerate long dry spells.
Soil
Light, well-drained soil; tolerates poor soils. pH 5.5–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
18–40 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Light feeding with compost at planting.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by stem cuttings
No pruning needed.
Raw roots and leaves contain compounds that release cyanide. Roots must be peeled, soaked and thoroughly cooked. Never feed raw cassava to pets or livestock.
Top Cultivation Tips
Plant 20 cm stem pieces at an angle.
Dig roots carefully; they bruise easily.
Cook roots soon after harvest; they spoil quickly.
Sweet varieties are lower in toxins but still need cooking.
Common problems
Mealybugs
White, cottony insects that hide in leaf joints and under leaves, weakening plants and spreading easily to neighbours.
How to treat it →PestSpider mites
Tiny sap-sucking mites that thrive in hot, dry conditions, causing speckled, dull leaves and fine webbing.
How to treat it →PestWhiteflies
Small white flying insects that gather under leaves, sucking sap, spreading viruses and leaving sticky honeydew.
How to treat it →
