[size=33]Growing Sweet Potatoes[/size]
Sweet potato plants flourish in warm weather, providing attractive ground cover while the sweet potatoes grow. image source: iStock.com
Unlike regular potatoes, which grow best when the soil is cool, sweet potatoes like it hot! They are tropical plants that are very sensitive to cold weather. In warm climates, many gardeners plant sweet potatoes about a month after the last spring frost, when both the air and soil are dependably warm. The plants produce lush vines that make a pretty ground cover, so they are a great crop for beds that adjoin areas that are difficult or tiresome to mow.
Shade plants if they wilt too much after planting them in the heat. A clay pot turned over the plant will do.
Growing sweet potatoes works best in loamy, well-drained soil that is not too rich. Ideally the pH is between 5.8 and 6.2, although they will tolerate a more acid pH to 5.0. Before planting, mix in a 1-inch layer of compost and thoroughly dampen the bed. If your soil is heavy clay, try growing sweet potatoes in raised beds amended with compost and sand; potatoes in clay are sometimes thinner and oddly shaped. Good root development depends on there being plenty of air space in the soil (good aeration). They are the ideal crop for areas with sandy soil.
Sweet potatoes are so willing to grow that plants accidentally dropped on the ground will take off and grow if the soil they land on is warm and moist. Plant sweet potatoes about 12 to 18 inches apart, and allow 3 feet between rows so the vines will have plenty of room to run. When setting out sweet potatoes in very hot, sunny weather, cover the plants with upturned flower pots for 3 days after planting to shield them from baking sun.
In the North, it’s a good idea to cover the soil with black plastic or black fabric mulch about 3 weeks before planting to warm the soil.
Sweet potatoes produce long vines that need plenty of space to grow.
Sweet potato vines will soon cover a large area. Thoroughly weed your sweet potatoes 2 weeks after planting by pulling them gently; if possible avoid deep digging with a hoe or other tool that disturbs the feeder roots that quickly spread throughout the bed. These give rise to your sweet potatoes. Water weekly. Water is especially important as plants grow and roots spread.
Historically, sweet potatoes have been a poor soil crop that produces a decent harvest in imperfect soil, but will do much better with a little fertilizer. About 2 weeks after planting, feed plants with a balanced organic or timed-release fertilizer that contains potassium (the third number on the fertilizer label), such as 5-10-10. Use about 2 cups 5-10-10 per 30 square feet (a 10-foot row). Gently scratch the fertilizer into the soil surface. Then mulch over the soil with an inch of grass clippings or another biodegradable mulch. Continue weeding and adding more mulch for another month. After that, sweet potatoes can usually fend for themselves, though they do benefit from weekly deep watering during serious droughts.
Or, simply feed with a liquid plant food, like Bonnie Herb, Vegetable & Flower Plant Food. Apply at planting, then every couple of weeks as the plants root and grow.
In climates where summer is hot, mulching before the vines get too long will help keep your sweet potato patch moist and weed-free.
Deer love to nibble tender sweet potato leaves, so you may need to deter them with floating row covers. Japanese beetles and other leaf-eating insects may cause light damage, but sweet potatoes are so vigorous that they usually outgrow foliage pest problems. More troublesome are pests that might attack the tubers. In Florida and some other southern states, sweet potato weevils are a big problem, often ruining the harvest. Wireworms and nematodes can also attack sweet potatoes.
You may have heard of a fungus disease called scurf that is very destructive to sweet potatoes. It is soil-borne and nearly impossible to get rid of once the soil is infested. Fortunately, you can avoid scurf by always planting certified, disease-free plants such as those sold by Bonnie.
In late summer, sweet potatoes often produce flowers that resemble those of morning glory, a close botanical cousin.
After harvesting, brush soil from potatoes but don’t wash them. Sweet potatoes that cure for several weeks in cool storage will taste the sweetest.
Sweet potatoes are usually ready to harvest just as the ends of the vines begin to turn yellow, or just before frost in the North. To avoid injuring tubers, find the primary crown of the plant you want to dig, and then use a digging fork to loosen an 18-inch wide circle around the plant. Pull up the crown and use your hands to gather your sweet potatoes. To make digging easier and get the vines out of your way, you can cut some of them away before digging. Harvest before frost because cool temperatures can reduce the quality of the potatoes and their ability to keep.
Don’t wrap sweet potatoes in aluminum foil when cooking because that causes them to steam. If you bake them without wrapping, they will caramelize.
Sweet potatoes are not very sweet when first dug, but they are fine for sweetened pies or casseroles. They need a period to sit and “cure” to bring out their sweetness. Shake off soil, and then lay the unwashed sweet potatoes in a warm (80°F to 90°F), well-ventilated place for about 10 days. A shaded table outdoors and out of the rain works well. As the sweet potatoes cure, any scratches in the skins should heal, and the flesh inside will become sweeter and more nutritious. This step is very important, as fresh, uncured potatoes do not bake as well. After 10 days, move your cured tubers to any spot that stays cool and dry, but do not refrigerate or store below 50°F. Cured sweet potatoes will keep for up to 6 months when stored at around 60°F with high humidity; a basement is ideal, though an air-conditioned storage room or pantry will do, too.
Sweet potato plants flourish in warm weather, providing attractive ground cover while the sweet potatoes grow. image source: iStock.com
Unlike regular potatoes, which grow best when the soil is cool, sweet potatoes like it hot! They are tropical plants that are very sensitive to cold weather. In warm climates, many gardeners plant sweet potatoes about a month after the last spring frost, when both the air and soil are dependably warm. The plants produce lush vines that make a pretty ground cover, so they are a great crop for beds that adjoin areas that are difficult or tiresome to mow.
Soil, Planting, and Care
Shade plants if they wilt too much after planting them in the heat. A clay pot turned over the plant will do.
Growing sweet potatoes works best in loamy, well-drained soil that is not too rich. Ideally the pH is between 5.8 and 6.2, although they will tolerate a more acid pH to 5.0. Before planting, mix in a 1-inch layer of compost and thoroughly dampen the bed. If your soil is heavy clay, try growing sweet potatoes in raised beds amended with compost and sand; potatoes in clay are sometimes thinner and oddly shaped. Good root development depends on there being plenty of air space in the soil (good aeration). They are the ideal crop for areas with sandy soil.
Sweet potatoes are so willing to grow that plants accidentally dropped on the ground will take off and grow if the soil they land on is warm and moist. Plant sweet potatoes about 12 to 18 inches apart, and allow 3 feet between rows so the vines will have plenty of room to run. When setting out sweet potatoes in very hot, sunny weather, cover the plants with upturned flower pots for 3 days after planting to shield them from baking sun.
In the North, it’s a good idea to cover the soil with black plastic or black fabric mulch about 3 weeks before planting to warm the soil.
Sweet potatoes produce long vines that need plenty of space to grow.
Sweet potato vines will soon cover a large area. Thoroughly weed your sweet potatoes 2 weeks after planting by pulling them gently; if possible avoid deep digging with a hoe or other tool that disturbs the feeder roots that quickly spread throughout the bed. These give rise to your sweet potatoes. Water weekly. Water is especially important as plants grow and roots spread.
Historically, sweet potatoes have been a poor soil crop that produces a decent harvest in imperfect soil, but will do much better with a little fertilizer. About 2 weeks after planting, feed plants with a balanced organic or timed-release fertilizer that contains potassium (the third number on the fertilizer label), such as 5-10-10. Use about 2 cups 5-10-10 per 30 square feet (a 10-foot row). Gently scratch the fertilizer into the soil surface. Then mulch over the soil with an inch of grass clippings or another biodegradable mulch. Continue weeding and adding more mulch for another month. After that, sweet potatoes can usually fend for themselves, though they do benefit from weekly deep watering during serious droughts.
Or, simply feed with a liquid plant food, like Bonnie Herb, Vegetable & Flower Plant Food. Apply at planting, then every couple of weeks as the plants root and grow.
Troubleshooting
In climates where summer is hot, mulching before the vines get too long will help keep your sweet potato patch moist and weed-free.
Deer love to nibble tender sweet potato leaves, so you may need to deter them with floating row covers. Japanese beetles and other leaf-eating insects may cause light damage, but sweet potatoes are so vigorous that they usually outgrow foliage pest problems. More troublesome are pests that might attack the tubers. In Florida and some other southern states, sweet potato weevils are a big problem, often ruining the harvest. Wireworms and nematodes can also attack sweet potatoes.
You may have heard of a fungus disease called scurf that is very destructive to sweet potatoes. It is soil-borne and nearly impossible to get rid of once the soil is infested. Fortunately, you can avoid scurf by always planting certified, disease-free plants such as those sold by Bonnie.
In late summer, sweet potatoes often produce flowers that resemble those of morning glory, a close botanical cousin.
Harvest and Storage
After harvesting, brush soil from potatoes but don’t wash them. Sweet potatoes that cure for several weeks in cool storage will taste the sweetest.
Sweet potatoes are usually ready to harvest just as the ends of the vines begin to turn yellow, or just before frost in the North. To avoid injuring tubers, find the primary crown of the plant you want to dig, and then use a digging fork to loosen an 18-inch wide circle around the plant. Pull up the crown and use your hands to gather your sweet potatoes. To make digging easier and get the vines out of your way, you can cut some of them away before digging. Harvest before frost because cool temperatures can reduce the quality of the potatoes and their ability to keep.
Don’t wrap sweet potatoes in aluminum foil when cooking because that causes them to steam. If you bake them without wrapping, they will caramelize.
Sweet potatoes are not very sweet when first dug, but they are fine for sweetened pies or casseroles. They need a period to sit and “cure” to bring out their sweetness. Shake off soil, and then lay the unwashed sweet potatoes in a warm (80°F to 90°F), well-ventilated place for about 10 days. A shaded table outdoors and out of the rain works well. As the sweet potatoes cure, any scratches in the skins should heal, and the flesh inside will become sweeter and more nutritious. This step is very important, as fresh, uncured potatoes do not bake as well. After 10 days, move your cured tubers to any spot that stays cool and dry, but do not refrigerate or store below 50°F. Cured sweet potatoes will keep for up to 6 months when stored at around 60°F with high humidity; a basement is ideal, though an air-conditioned storage room or pantry will do, too.
Today at 6:01 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani reveals an intention to establish Al-Faw refinery with a capacity of 300 thousand barrels
Today at 6:00 am by Rocky
» Government readiness to move the Doura refinery to an alternative location.. What are the conditions
Today at 5:59 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington.. Implications and results
Today at 5:56 am by Rocky
» Association of Iraqi Private Banks: The suspension of some electronic payment services yesterday was
Today at 5:55 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary memorandum.. Two solutions were before the Federal Court instead of removing the compo
Today at 5:53 am by Rocky
» Blue fuel... Iraqi steps towards inexhaustible wealth for a century
Today at 5:51 am by Rocky
» For fear of being "upset"... MPs "evade" signing to host Al-Sudani in Parliament
Today at 5:50 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani’s statement to convert 40% of Iraq’s exports into derivatives.. What does it have to do wi
Today at 5:48 am by Rocky
» An Iraqi-American partnership to benefit from oil field gas
Today at 5:46 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Commerce announces the distribution of the first payments of farmers’ dues for the 2
Today at 5:45 am by Rocky
» Sudanese to members of the Iraqi community in the American city of Houston: Iraq has regained its he
Today at 5:43 am by Rocky
» Romanski announces loans worth $50 million to support the Iraqi private sector
Today at 5:42 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister: We plan to invest production capacities for export
Today at 5:41 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani's visit to Washington.. Implications and results
Today at 5:39 am by Rocky
» “Something happened” in Iran and no one is talking about Iraq and Syria. This is what we have so far
Today at 5:38 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani asks the American Baker Institute for assistance in preparing studies related to the oil m
Today at 5:36 am by Rocky
» The Interior Ministry denies the occurrence of explosions inside Iraqi territory and diagnoses “the
Today at 5:35 am by Rocky
» Tensions between Najaf and Baghdad over the airport... the rule of law over “military force” and the
Today at 5:34 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani from Washington: We agreed with Abu Dhabi on joint management of Al-Faw Port
Today at 5:33 am by Rocky
» "Al-Party" talks about the region's elections and reveals the reason for refusing to pay salaries di
Today at 5:31 am by Rocky
» Russia's oil is taking more of the Middle East's shares in the Indian market.. How much has Iraq los
Today at 5:29 am by Rocky
» Early next month.. Traffic confirms that the electronic payment system is working only
Today at 5:27 am by Rocky
» The Service Council accuses state departments of refraining from disbursing bonuses because of the m
Today at 5:25 am by Rocky
» Electricity: The Baghdad street lighting campaign will be completed before the middle of this year
Today at 5:24 am by Rocky
» Oil poses two conditions for moving the Doura refinery to an alternative location
Today at 5:23 am by Rocky
» The Foreign Minister reveals the truth about his resignation and the reason for his departure to Erb
Today at 5:22 am by Rocky
» Progress: Al-Halbousi’s acquittal has become conclusive, and his return to the presidency of Parliam
Today at 5:20 am by Rocky
» Disagreements strike Al-Maliki's coalition over choosing the governor of Diyala
Today at 5:19 am by Rocky
» The Union accuses Türkiye of exploiting the political situation for a ground incursion into Iraq
Today at 5:18 am by Rocky
» The Democratic Party: Barzani is eagerly awaiting the results of Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington
Today at 5:17 am by Rocky
» Frame: Al-Halbousi in the news and his return has become a pipe dream
Today at 5:16 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary request to capitalize on Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad to end the water crisis
Today at 5:15 am by Rocky
» utube 4/18/24 Iraq: Over 14 Agreements Signed Between Iraq and US BREAKING NEWS from Congress.
Yesterday at 6:28 pm by Rocky
» utube MM&C 4/16/24 IQD Update - Iraq Dinar - America - Activate - Massive Economic Deals -
Yesterday at 6:24 pm by Rocky
» Al-Sudani urges the US corporation Honeywell to help finish the Basra refinery
Yesterday at 3:48 pm by Rocky
» Al-Sudani Meets with Representatives of Western Media Outlets in Washington
Yesterday at 3:46 pm by Rocky
» Chairman of the Investment Authority signs the United Nations Convention on International Mediation
Yesterday at 3:44 pm by Rocky
» PM: We will sign a contract to establish the Al-Faw refinery with a Chinese company
Yesterday at 3:42 pm by Rocky
» PM arrives in Houston as part of his visit to USA
Yesterday at 3:41 pm by Rocky
» Militia Man & Crew 4/18/24 Bush signed it and all presidents implemented it. Iraq’s funds have been
Yesterday at 2:46 pm by Rocky
» Iraq is close to launching the electronic signature
Yesterday at 8:12 am by Rocky
» The Basra government discusses with an international oil company the implementation of social benefi
Yesterday at 8:11 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister confirms to an American company: Gas projects in Iraq are a priority for the gove
Yesterday at 8:10 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Planning discusses with the World Bank mechanisms for scheduling external loans
Yesterday at 8:09 am by Rocky
» Oil sets the twenty-seventh of this month as the date for opening contracts for the fifth complement
Yesterday at 8:08 am by Rocky
» “Electronic begging”...professionalism and fabrication of stories” generates millions of dinars dail
Yesterday at 8:05 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani calls on the American company Hanwell to contribute to the completion of the Basra refiner
Yesterday at 8:03 am by Rocky
» An American company expresses its willingness to establish LED lighting production lines in Iraq
Yesterday at 8:02 am by Rocky
» Including Iraq.. Iran announces the possibility of exporting 300 megawatts of “renewable electricity
Yesterday at 8:01 am by Rocky
» Political forces present two options to find an alternative to Al-Halbousi
Yesterday at 7:58 am by Rocky
» Parliament is awaiting the arrival of the budget schedules and the government is studying higher spe
Yesterday at 7:56 am by Rocky
» The International Monetary Fund adjusts its expectations for the development of the world’s economie
Yesterday at 7:54 am by Rocky
» A representative talks about the difficulty of finalizing the file of “electing the Speaker of Parli
Yesterday at 7:50 am by Rocky
» Work on preparing a law for diplomatic passports
Yesterday at 7:49 am by Rocky
» A female representative accuses the Ministry of Immigration of corruption
Yesterday at 7:47 am by Rocky
» Minister: Solving the Kurdistan salaries problem is the beginning of addressing other disputes betwe
Yesterday at 7:45 am by Rocky
» About 270 million dollars were sold by the Central Bank of Iraq in the currency auction
Yesterday at 7:42 am by Rocky
» The volume of trade exchange between Jordan and Iraq will exceed 800 million dinars in 2023
Yesterday at 7:41 am by Rocky
» Iraq signs memorandums of understanding with American companies in the fields of electricity, oil an
Yesterday at 6:31 am by Rocky
» The American company that manufactures the F16 expresses its readiness to implement the terms of con
Yesterday at 6:30 am by Rocky
» The volume of expected Qatari investments for the Iraq Fund for Development exceeds $3.5 billion
Yesterday at 6:29 am by Rocky
» Decrease in dollar prices in Baghdad and Erbil
Yesterday at 6:27 am by Rocky
» The President of the Region brings together the Kurdish parties to resolve the election file
Yesterday at 6:26 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani receives in Washington the Chairman of JPMorgan
Yesterday at 6:25 am by Rocky
» Transport is starting to transform its ports into smart ones
Yesterday at 6:23 am by Rocky
» Sudanese reveals the volume of exchange with America
Yesterday at 6:22 am by Rocky
» "Al-Eqtisad News" publishes the memorandums of understanding signed between the Iraqi delegation and
Yesterday at 6:21 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani urges an American company to contribute to establishing a chemical materials factory
Yesterday at 6:20 am by Rocky
» Iraq stresses the importance of Lockheed Martin's commitment to opening military aircraft maintenanc
Yesterday at 6:19 am by Rocky
» Iraq is on the verge of a “water disaster” by 2035
Yesterday at 6:18 am by Rocky
» Great satisfaction and optimism with the results of Sudanese’s visit to Washington
Yesterday at 6:16 am by Rocky
» Transport is beginning to adopt a plan to transform its ports into smart ones
Yesterday at 6:15 am by Rocky
» Completed 8,000 loan transactions at the Housing Bank
Yesterday at 6:14 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister: We plan to invest production capacities for export
Yesterday at 6:12 am by Rocky
» Transformation and partnership...a new horizon in Iraqi-American relations
Yesterday at 6:10 am by Rocky
» What is new in the economic dimension of the Washington visit?
Yesterday at 6:09 am by Rocky
» Two letters to the future
Yesterday at 6:08 am by Rocky
» National interests first
Yesterday at 6:06 am by Rocky
» Iraqi-American rapprochement...a national necessity
Yesterday at 6:05 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington and the course of Iraqi-American relations
Yesterday at 6:04 am by Rocky
» Sudanese carries security, economic and development files to Washington
Yesterday at 6:03 am by Rocky
» Armament and military development... features of a sustainable partnership
Yesterday at 6:02 am by Rocky
» Analysts: Sudanese's visit to Washington will achieve excellent results in the future
Yesterday at 6:01 am by Rocky
» Iraqi-American relations...the legacy of the past and the aspirations of partnership
Yesterday at 6:00 am by Rocky
» Sudanese and external necessities
Yesterday at 5:59 am by Rocky
» The Strategic Framework Agreement... 7 important provisions
Yesterday at 5:58 am by Rocky
» Joint statement of the Iraqi-American discussions
Yesterday at 5:56 am by Rocky
» Supreme Coordinating Committee: Iraq's role is vital to the security and prosperity of the region
Yesterday at 5:55 am by Rocky
» Towards an effective bilateral economic relationship between Baghdad and Washington
Yesterday at 5:53 am by Rocky
» She saw it as a new, different chapter in Iraqi-American relations... Al-Sudani’s visit to Washingto
Yesterday at 5:52 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington.. Implications and results
Yesterday at 5:51 am by Rocky
» Advisor to the Prime Minister: The relationship with America has moved to the stage of cooperation
Yesterday at 5:50 am by Rocky
» Sudanese sponsors the signing ceremony of memorandums of understanding in America
Yesterday at 5:47 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The volume of exchange between Iraq and the United States does not exceed 10 billion doll
Yesterday at 5:46 am by Rocky
» During Erdogan's visit on Monday, Iraq seeks to sign the "Water Protocol" with Türkiye
Yesterday at 5:45 am by Rocky
» With the escalation of tension between Tehran and Tel Aviv...an expert reveals the secrets of Sudane
Yesterday at 5:43 am by Rocky
» There are 150 draft laws on the parliament table waiting to be voted on... and the debates require c
Yesterday at 5:42 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani stresses the necessity of continuing the dialogue with the US Treasury, the Federal Reserv
Yesterday at 5:41 am by Rocky