CAssava

 

Florida Heritage Foods Menu

Common name

Cassava

Scientific Name

Manihot esculenta

Other Common Names

Historical Significance

cassava historical image
‘Cassava Field in Kissimmee, Florida (1900)’ http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc04433.jpg

Cultural Significance

'A boy uses a long-handled implement to smooth a gigantic vat of manioc flour in a quilombo, or a community of descendants of formerly enslaved people, at Curiaú, Macapá, Amapá, Brazil. .Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, © Andre Cypriano, [Reproduction number e.g., LC-DIG-ppmsca-123456].
'A boy uses a long-handled implement to smooth a gigantic vat of manioc flour in a quilombo, or a community of descendants of formerly enslaved people, at Curiaú, Macapá, Amapá, Brazil. .Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, © Andre Cypriano, [Reproduction number e.g., LC-DIG-ppmsca-123456].
Casava.1904
Casava.1912

Cooking With Cassava

recipe placeholder thumbnail
recipe placeholder thumbnail

Yuca with Garlic Sauce / Yuca Con Mojo Criollo

For more heritage foods recipes Cassava or Yuca Plant Card PhotoCassava or Yuca Plant Card Photo More Heritage Plant Cards

Growing Tips

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).’

cassava References and Resources