How to grow Sweet Potato?
- Latin Family: Convolvulaceae
- Latin Genus: Ipomoea
- Ease of Growing: Easy
- Growing Type: Annual
The Sweet Potato is a relative of Morning Glory and should not be confused with the Yam, which is a member of the Dioscorea family. It is an important perennial food crop in many tropical countries, but has to be grown as an annual in temperate regions. Sweet Potatoes have a yellow interior and the flavor is sweeter than white potatoes. They can be boiled, baked, fried, made into chips, roasted and used in stews. The potato is one of the most versatile vegetables we have. The Sweet Potatoes are commonly used in the same way as Pumpkins and Winter Squash, but they are much easier to prepare. They are commonly used for "Pumpkin" pie commercially and at home in the kitchen.
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Sweet Potato History
This species is native to Central and South America and was introduced into Europe very early in the history of European exploration (about 1500). Many of the first references to the potato probably mean this species. It didn’t do well in Northern Europe, but was taken from there to India, China and other countries where it became an important crop.
Soil Preference
- PH (min/max): 4.5 - 7.0
- PH Ideal (min/max): 5.5 - 6.5
The Sweet Potato does better in poor soils than most other crops, but (as is usually the case) better soil will give you a larger crop. The ideal soil for Sweet Potatoes is a rich, deep, well-drained sandy loam that retains moisture. It should be fairly acidic, as this reduces disease problems. If the soil is poorly drained there is a risk of root rot. Heavy clay soil isn't good as it may produce slender roots.
How to care for Sweet Potato?
When growing in the right conditions Sweet Potatoes are vigorous, independent and don’t need much care.
Water
Established plants are quite drought tolerant, but the soil should be kept evenly moist for best productivity (and especially while they are young). Don't over-water though, as too much water encourages foliage growth at the expense of root growth. If water is in short supply you can cut back on watering when the plants are well established and just water them when the soil gets dry.
Fertilizer
Like most root crops they need phosphorus (add colloidal phosphate) and potassium (add greensand or wood ashes). They don't need a lot of nitrogen, as it encourages the growth of foliage rather than roots (and can result in inferior roots).
Seeds
Seed Viability:
Sweet Potatoes aren't propagated from seeds. Just save some of the best tubers for propagating slips.
An alternative way to save material for planting next years is to pot up some of the smaller tubers you harvested and keep these in a greenhouse or on a windowsill for the winter. When they start growing the following spring you can separate out the new shoots that emerge and plant in individual pots. When the right time approaches in spring you can plant these outside.
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily
These creeping tropical vines need as much sunlight as they can get.
Conditions:Warm, Hot
Season:Long Season
Storage
Fully cured roots can then be stored for several months at 50 to 60° F. The storage temperature is quite critical as if it is too cool (lower than 50° F) their the eating quality will deteriorate and they may even rot (don’t keep them in the fridge). Higher temperatures (above 60° F) may cause them to sprout, dry out or otherwise deteriorate. They can be stored in paper lined boxes in a well ventilated place. Keep out of direct sunlight.
Storage Req:
Storage Temp: 50-60°F
Storage Length: 1-60 days
Problems
Frost
Sweet Potatoes are very tender and any frost will kill the tops. If an early fall frost threatens, it pays to protect them with straw mulch, cloches or even sheets. This is extra work, but you may be rewarded with several more weeks of growing weather. The large plant grow rapidly towards the end, so there can be a big benefit in leaving them in the ground as long as possible. When a hard frost threatens, dig tubers immediately. Don't wait too long as any damage to the tubers will affect their storability.
Sweet Potato Types
- Sweet Potato
Sweet Potatoes are commonly used in the same way as Pumpkins and Winter Squash, but they are much easier to prepare. They are commonly used for "Pumpkin" pie commercially and at home in the kitchen. Sweet potatoes are classified by their flesh as either moist or dry.
Pests
- Sweet Potato Weevil
- Tortoise Beetle
- Nematodes
- Deer
- Groundhog
- Gophers
- Spider Mites
- Leafhoppers
- Aphids
- Thrips
- Tomato Hornworm
- Whiteflies
- Armyworms
- Cucumber Beetle
- Cutworms
- Flea Beetle
- Japanese Beetle
- Wireworm
Diseases
- Scurf
- Gray Mold Botrytis Fruit Rot
- Anthracnose
- Southern Blight
- Internal Cork
- Bacterial Wilt
- Scab
- Fusarium Wilt
- Cercospora Leaf Spot
- Alternaria Blight
- Black Rot
- Bacterial Stem Rot, Bacterial Root Rot, Bacterial Soft Rot
