Yudin is a variety of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) intended for cultivation in garden and vegetable plot conditions. The plant belongs to the Asteraceae family, related to Jerusalem artichoke and sunflower. The plant height is 1.5–2 m; leaves are dark green with serrated edges, the stem is round and green with anthocyanin spots. Large tubers weighing from 400 to 600 g form on the rhizomes, usually up to seven per plant.
To ensure successful cultivation, high illumination, regular watering with warm water, and adherence to deep soil loosening are required. It is recommended to use a mixture of compost (0.5 kg), ash (1 cup), and organo-mineral fertilizer (1 tablespoon) per hole at planting. Tubers should be harvested after the first frost in open ground or in the second half of October in a greenhouse; they are stored at +2–3 °C. When stored in sunlight, tubers become sweeter, the taste resembles apple with melon.
Yudin has a high content of inulin (up to 20%) and selenium (up to 1.1 mg/kg), making it useful for diabetes and obesity, and also contributes to maintaining a healthy intestinal microflora. Tubers are added to salads, syrups, and other dishes; they are also used as fodder for animals. Thanks to its resistance to a wide range of temperatures (but not low temperatures around 0 °C) and high yield – up to 34 kg per plot – yudin becomes a valuable product both for home use and commercial production.
