Melinda Myers

Sweet Potato

Botanical Name

Ipomoea batatas

Height

1 foot

Width

Up to 10 feet

Light

Full sun

Soil

Moist, well-drained, rich in organic matter

Planting & Care

• Sweet potatoes are started from plants called slips
• Wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed before planting slips in the garden
• Always buy plants grown from certified disease-free roots
• Plant slips four inches deep and 12 inches apart, preferably on a wide raised ridge about 8 inches high
• Space rows 3 to 4 feet apart
• Water regularly after planting to help the plants get established
• As the plants mature, they should be watered with moderation, later watering can cause root cracking
• Early roots can be "robbed" starting in late summer by digging into the side of the ridge and carefully removing some developing roots while leaving the plant in place
• Harvest the main crop around the time of the first fall frost
• Using a fork or spade, be careful not to bruise, cut or damage the roots
• Sweet potatoes should be handled as little as possible to avoid bruising and scuffing
• In case of frost, cut the vines from the roots immediately to prevent decay spreading from the vines to the roots and dig up sweet potatoes as soon as possible
• Cold soil temperatures quickly lessen the roots' ability to keep in storage
• Allow harvested roots to dry on the ground for 2 to 3 hours after harvest, then cure the roots for 1 to 2 weeks at 80°F and then store in a cool (55°F) and dry location
• When properly cured, sweet potatoes can be stored for 3 to 4 months, but for best quality, enjoy your sweet potatoes as soon as possible after storing

Problems

Mice, weeds, wireworms, nematodes, scurf, black rot, fusarium wilt, flea beetles, cutworms

Varieties

• Beauregard - dark orange flesh, light rose skin, extremely high yield, stores well, 100 days to maturity
• Bush Porto Rico - compact vines, copper skin, orange flesh, high yield
• Jewel - deep copper skin, deep orange flesh, high yielding; good fusarium wilt, Southern root-knot nematodes, beetle and internal cork resistance
• Regal - very high yields, excellent disease and pest resistance
• Southern Delite - rose to dark copper skin, excellent baking flavor, high yields, excellent disease and insect pest resistance, 100 days to maturity