Cassava

Days to harvest

270–365 days

Sunlight

6–10 hours/day

Watering

2–3 per day

Plant spacing

100 cm

Minimum container size

60cm deep × 60cm wide

Container-friendly

1 plants per container

Estimated yield

500 kg / 100m²

Life span

annual

Climate Requirements

Ideal temperature

25-35 °C

Annual rainfall

1000-2500 mm

Humidity

50-80%

Heat tolerance

high

Drought tolerance

high

Soil & Planting

Companion Plants

• Pineapplemoderate

  Traditional Johor and Pahang intercrop system: pineapple planted between cassava rows; cassava windbreak reduces pineapple mealybug vector pressure; pineapple suppresses weeds around cassava base

• Groundnut / Peanutstrong

  Groundnut intercrop fixes nitrogen and provides ground cover between tapioca rows

Plants to Avoid Nearby

• Ginger

  Cassava's aggressive lateral root system physically disrupts ginger rhizome development; root competition causes misshapen ginger rhizomes and reduced yield

• Turmeric

  Same root competition as with ginger — cassava is strongly antagonistic to all rhizome spice crops in shared topsoil

• Banana

  Cassava's aggressive surface root system competes directly with banana mat roots; cassava's lateral root spread encroaches into banana nutrient uptake zone causing stunting

• Taro / Cocoyam

  Tapioca and taro compete for nutrients; incompatible moisture requirements in shared beds

Common Pests & Diseases

Safety Notes

CRITICAL: Raw cassava contains cyanogenic glycosides (HCN) — MUST be peeled, soaked, and cooked thoroughly before consumption. NEVER eat raw. Proper processing removes 90%+ of cyanide compounds.

Market Demand

Moderate; traditional staple

Regional Notes

Hardy; grows in poor soil

Sources

• MARDI Field Crops Research 2024 — Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute · Last reviewed: 2024-06-01