In the following article, we will show you How to Plant Sweet Potatoes in your own urban or home garden, When and Where We Plant Sweet Potatoes, What is The Best Way to Grow Sweet Potatoes, How to Plant a Sprouted Sweet Potato, and How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in a Bag. Growing sweet potatoes is not difficult if you follow the right steps.
Table of Contents
When and Where We Plant Sweet Potatoes
When and Where We Plant Sweet Potatoes. Before explaining how to plant sweet potatoes, we will explain When and Where We Plant Sweet Potatoes.
When is The Best Time to Plant Sweet Potatoes
When is The Best Time to Plant Sweet Potatoes? The best time to plant sweet potatoes is two times every year, during the period between April and June, and another between August and September (Northern Hemisphere).
What is The Best Way to Grow Sweet Potatoes
What is The Best Way to Grow Sweet Potatoes? The best way to grow sweet potatoes and start the growth of sweet potatoes is by using sprouts that we must prepare previously.
The sweet potato is a tropical plant and does not tolerate low temperatures. It requires good luminosity and a temperature above 70°F (21ºC).
It tolerates heat very well and the minimum temperature for its growth is 53°F (12º C).
How to Water Sweet Potatoes
How to Water Sweet Potatoes. It requires a relative humidity between 80 and 85%.
It requires moist soils, especially when planting shoots, to favor rooting.
However, excessive humidity can cause production and quality losses, so a well-drained substrate is recommended.
How to Water Sweet Potatoes. Generally speaking, one or two waterings per month are sufficient, ensuring that the soil layers are kept moist, although if the climate is very dry and the heat is intense, the number of waterings can be increased.
Soil for Sweet Potatoes
Soil for Sweet Potatoes. Sweet Potatoes adapt to different types of substrates, although it prefers coarse-textured, loose, crumbly, granular, and well-drained soils.
Soil for Sweet Potatoes. The optimum pH is 6.0, although sweet potatoes tolerate moderately acid soils, with a pH between 4.5 and 7.5.
Fertilization of Sweet Potatoes should be avoided during the growing season, as it will favor the growth of the vine, but will result in undersized tubers. Try to moderate the amount of nitrogen in the soil.
To control the pH of the soil where we will plant our sweet potatoes we use this pH meter, the advantage of this model is that it does not require batteries.
- 3-In-1 Multi-function - Using our soil measuring instrument to test the soil moisture, sunlight level, and pH value of plants, helps you accurately grasp the time and amount of water you need to water the plants
- Fast and Reliable: Double needle detection technology greatly improves the speed and accuracy of detecting and analyzing soil moisture and pH acidity, noticeably detect changes in the soil.
- Easy to Use - No batteries needed, just insert the sensor probe into about 2-4 inches of the soil and turn the switch to get the test results for plant moisture, pH and sunlight. Large clear dial, including ten graduations, plug and play.
How to Plant Sweet Potatoes – Step by Step
Now that you know when, where and what sweet potato needs to be planted, we will explain step by step how to plant sweet potatoes.
How to Plant a Sprouted Sweet Potato
How to Plant a Sprouted Sweet Potato: One of the options to obtain our own sweet potato seedlings is to root sweet potatoes in water
1- To grow a sweet potato you only need to get a sweet potato. Wash it well and cut it in half.
2- Next, fill a bowl with water. Place the two portions of sweet potato on the cut side down. The water level should be kept between 1″ and 2″ (2.5 and 5 cm).
Place the container in a window so that they receive air and a good amount of sunlight.
You will notice that after about 2 to 4 weeks, each piece will begin to sprout small plants and develop roots. Now you have your Sprouted Sweet Potato completely rooted and ready for planting.
3- When the sprouts have developed a good number of roots, it is time to move them into direct soil or a large, deep pot.
Let’s continue reading How to Plant a Sprouted Sweet Potato
4- Pull weeds and debris from previous crops and all types of debris to ensure that your sweet potatoes receive the proper amount of nutrients.
All plants should be pulled out at the root to prevent re-growth.
5- Moisten the soil before planting sweet potatoes to improve the quality of the substrate. Make sure that the place where you place your sweet potatoes is well lit and the ambient temperature is high.
Add a layer of compost to help make the soil nutritious for your sweet potatoes.
6- How to Plant a Sprouted Sweet Potato. Bury each cutting in holes deep enough for the roots to enter, taking care not to leave the stem buried where the leaves begin. Approximately 0.6″ (1.5 cm) above the base.
If sowing more than one cutting, leave a separation of 12″ to 20″ (30 to 50 cm) between one and the other.
7- To protect sweet potatoes from the cold, add mulch to the soil.
How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in a Bag
How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in a Bag. Alternatively, you should also plant your sweet potatoes in a bag, we have some bags for planting potatoes and sweet potatoes, and we place them on our balcony.
How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in a Bag. The advantages of these bags are that they are very resistant and provide the space that the sweet potato needs to grow (Order it here).
- 3-pack grow bags: 7 Gallon grow bags with large capacity allows you to grow whatever you want. The size is large enough to create a stable growing environment for veggies and flower. The strong handles make them easy to move around as your needs. 3 pack vegetable planter bags make planting, growing, and harvesting easier and great for Potatoes, onions, carrots, tomatoes flower etc.
- Sturdy for reusing: The growing bag is made of waterproof PE material, lightweight and super sturdy, reusable for many years, but also easier to breathe, easy to grow, and can be used repeatedly. It also can prevent over watering and it can automatically percolate excess water. Provides an healthy environment for root plants.
- Easy to operate and store: The bags can be easily used for several seasons and not take up much space when storing. You can easily move and flip the lid to help you harvest potatoes without damaging the plants. You can put about 4 to 6 seed potato plants in each bag. These garden planting bags are suitable for seasonal use. At the end of the growing season, empty the bag, simply wipe it clean and fold like a regular flower pot, taking up very little space.
How Long Does It Take To Harvest Sweet Potatoes
How Long Does It Take To Harvest Sweet Potatoes? Between four and six months after planting, usually during October and November, you will be able to harvest your sweet potatoes.
How to Harvest Sweet Potatoes
How to Harvest Sweet Potatoes. When the sweet potato is ripe, the leaves turn yellowish.
Two weeks beforehand, it is necessary to cut the branches.
Harvesting is done by hand, leaving the roots to dry on the ground.
To enhance their flavor and harden their peel a little, you can place them in an area with a temperature of 86 to 95°F (30 to 35 °C) and 80 to 90% humidity for 5 to 10 days.
A small heater and humidifier in a small room may be sufficient.
Pests and Diseases of Sweet Potato
Pests and Diseases of Sweet Potato. You already know how to plant sweet potatoes, now finally we explain which pests and diseases could affect the sweet potato.
Wireworm
The application of nettle slurry is recommended as prevention.
To combat them, potassium or biodegradable soap can be applied to the underside of the plants. It should be applied very early in the morning or the afternoon when the sun no longer hits the leaves.
Sweet Potato Mosaic
To prevent it, it is best to install a drip irrigation system and apply horsetail as a preventive measure.
Also, nitrogen supply should be limited and resistant varieties should be used.
It also works to eliminate weeds and crop debris and promote crop ventilation.
Fusarium oxysporum
Fusarium oxysporum. To prevent the disease, it is recommended to use well-drained soils, plant healthy and vigorous cuttings, protect the roots and regulate shade.
We hope you enjoy our article about How to Plant Sweet Potatoes in your own urban or home garden, When and Where We Plant Sweet Potatoes, What is The Best Way to Grow Sweet Potatoes, How to Plant a Sprouted Sweet Potato, and How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in a Bag.
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