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