How to Grow Tapioca
- 1). Cut the roots of a mature tapioca plant into sections 8 to 14 inches in length with a sharp knife. Each section must have one node.
- 2). Select an outside planting site for a tapioca plant. This plant grows best in full sun during the morning and partial shade during the afternoon. Tapioca grows as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 and 9. Stem segments begin to regrow in the spring when they encounter temperatures between zero and 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Tapioca grows as an evergreen in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11.
- 3). Loosen the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches to provide good drainage for a tapioca plant. This plant can grow in poor soil, and will tolerate acid and alkaline pH levels. Plant the root segments of the tapioca plant to a depth of 3 to 6 inches in late fall.
- 4). Water the tapioca roots before the soil completely dries out. This plant is highly drought tolerant, but may produce larger roots with supplemental watering.
- 5). Harvest tapioca roots in the fall by pulling the entire plant from the ground. Cut the tuberous roots from the rest of the plant, and peel off the outer covering of the roots with a paring knife. Place the roots in a pot of boiling water until the roots are tender, changing the water out at least once.