Sweet potatoes need a long growing season. They do best in coarse textured soils that are well drained and relatively low in nitrogen. Excessive nitrogen or heavy applications of animal manures can cause long spindly roots and low quality. Heavy soils cause misshapen roots.
Sweet potatoes are planted from transplants (slips) available from local nurseries or garden center. Plant slips 2 to 3 inches deep in ridges or rows 42 to 48 inches apart. Slips should be 12 inches apart in the row. Plant 1 to 2 weeks after danger of last frost. A second planting of sweet potatoes can be made with vine cuttings from the first planting. An 18-inch cutting can be directly stuck and rooted in moist ground.
Potatoes are ready to harvest when the greatest number of 8- to 10-ounce potatoes are found under each plant. Harvest before the first killing frost occurs to prevent injury to the potatoes. Clip the vines before the frost occurs. The crop can then be harvested easily with less damage to the potatoes. To reduce rotting in storage, be sure potatoes are clean, dry, and injury-free.
Cure sweet potatoes before storing. Curing usually requires 7 to 10 days if the temperature is maintained at 80 to 85 ºF with 70 to 90 percent humidity. After curing, keep the potatoes as near 65 ºF as possible with the humidity at 85 percent. |
