{"id":7614,"date":"2020-10-13T07:34:36","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T07:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=7614"},"modified":"2021-11-13T11:54:24","modified_gmt":"2021-11-13T11:54:24","slug":"how-to-grow-sweet-potatoes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-grow-sweet-potatoes\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Grow Sweet Potatoes: A Simple Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sweet potatoes are a truly glorious vegetable. They are a root vegetable like the standard potato, but with a completely different texture and taste, and a huge supply of vitamins, minerals and other exciting health benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can, of course, buy your sweet potatoes (or yams – that’s how they are often marketed in the US) from the shop or the grocer – or, you could grow your own. How to grow sweet potatoes at home? Start by reading further for the best tips!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are Sweet Potatoes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sweet potato is the common name for Ipomoea batatas<\/em>, a member of the Convolvulaceae<\/em>, or Bindweed family<\/a>. It is native to tropical regions of the Americas, where its flesh is prized for its sweet, soft texture when cooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the name, sweet potato is not actually a potato! It is a root vegetable, but the name comes from Christopher Columbus\u2019 explorations and the combining of the Spanish and Taino words for the various cultivars, which has turned into the word that we know today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sweet potato is an incredibly widespread vegetable, with many countries in the world enjoying its sweet flavor and smooth texture. In 2019, a whopping 113 million tons of sweet potato were produced, with more than half of that total coming from China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do Sweet Potatoes Grow?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The seeds of sweet potato are generally only used for breeding, so the plants themselves are best grown from \u201cslips\u201d;<\/em> the shoots that grow from the roots during storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are long, winding plants that spread out their leaves to a fair distance, while the root develops underground, turning into the fleshy tuber we all know and love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can take as little as two months and as long as nine months to fully grow a sweet potato, depending on the type of weather and soil that you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sweet potatoes grow best in well drained and light or medium textured soils, with an average temperature of 75 degrees F, and they are sensitive to both drought and waterlogged roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not generally susceptible to pests, so won\u2019t usually need any types of herbicides, and as the leaves spread so widely they tend not to get surrounded and choked by weeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types Of Sweet Potato<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Although most of us think of that eye catching orange color and smooth flesh, when we think of sweet potatoes, there are actually many other types of sweet potato that come in different colors and have different textures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pale Sweet Potatoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most common variety is the Hannah<\/strong>, which has a cream colored, smooth skin, and a white flesh that turns yellow when it is cooked. This is one of the sweeter sweet potatoes, with flesh that is firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Purple Sweet Potatoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, these alien looking species exist! They are called Stokes Purple<\/strong>, and they are a startlingly deep purple color both when raw and cooked. They are, reportedly, not as sweet as some others, and the texture is quite dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Japanese Sweet Potatoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Japanese yam<\/strong> is a purple skinned potato, with flesh that starts out white then turns golden when it is cooked. It is one of the sweetest, with firm flesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Orange Sweet Potatoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These are what most of think of when we think of sweet potatoes; the Garnet<\/strong> is a variety that has reddish or dark orange skin, and sweet, moist flesh when cooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a tiny snippet of the many different types of sweet potato; we\u2019d need hours to tell you about all of them! But, as you can see, there are many different types you can choose from depending on the sort of thing you want to grow and cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sweet Potato Uses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sweet potatoes are so incredibly versatile; they can be incorporated into a huge variety of dishes and cooked in a multitude of different ways. They are incredibly healthy, and packed with nutritional benefits, and they will be delicious every way you try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Roast them as you would a potato, but you don\u2019t actually need to use any oil, as the sweet potato is naturally more moist than its distant cousin.<\/li>
  2. As chips. Sweet potato fries are healthier and even more delicious than normal chips – just slice them into matchsticks and bake!<\/li>
  3. Can be incorporated into other dishes. Sweet potato lends itself to pretty much any dish – from curries to casseroles, and everything in between.<\/li>
  4. As a potato substitute. If you are looking for a healthier diet but you love the humble spud, why not switch to its nutritional friend?<\/li>
  5. Surprisingly, this root vegetable takes very little time to soften – and steaming it is the best way to retain all its nutritional benefits.<\/li>
  6. In sweet or savory dishes. Although it is technically a vegetable, the flavor of a sweet potato means that it can be used in desserts too.<\/li>
  7. Leaves can be used in salads. Don\u2019t throw away the leaves from your plants! They make a great little salad, and can also be used as a spinach substitute.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How To Grow Sweet Potatoes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The first thing you need to do is make sure the soil is warm enough<\/strong>. If you live in a cold area, or plan on planting your sweet potatoes in a shaded area of your garden, it may be worth looking into a greenhouse option or even grow them indoors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Next, pick the most suitable soil<\/strong>. Light or medium textured soil which is well draining is the best option for sweet potatoes, and the soil should be a pH level of between 4.5 and 7.0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Your sweet potatoes must be well watered<\/strong> as they are sensitive to drought, but you must also make sure that the roots don\u2019t get waterlogged<\/strong>. Keep an eye on them 50 to 60 days after planting, as this is when they will need to be kept consistently moist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This video is a useful first step to planting your sweet potatoes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=g84JfZwpiQY<\/a>