Sweet Potatoes — FarmPal
Heat-loving tropical roots. Incredibly productive in warm climates.
Sun
full
Water
moderate
Spacing
12-18 inches apart, rows 36-48 inches apart
Days to Harvest
90-120 days
Planting Depth
Slips planted 4-6 inches deep, leaving top leaves above soil
Companion Plants
Beans
Corn
Dill
Thyme
Avoid Planting Near
Tomatoes
Squash
Common Pests
Sweet potato weevil
Wireworms
Flea beetles
Whiteflies
Diseases to Watch
Black rot
Fusarium wilt
Scurf
Soft rot
Growing Tips
- •Grow from slips (rooted sprouts), not seeds or pieces
- •Start slips 8-12 weeks before planting from stored sweet potatoes
- •Wait until soil is 65°F+ before planting they hate cold
- •Use black plastic mulch in cooler climates to warm soil
- •Vines spread extensively plant at edge of garden
- •Reduce watering 3-4 weeks before harvest for better storage
Harvesting
- •Harvest before first frost cold damages tubers
- •Dig carefully with fork sweet potatoes bruise easily
- •Cure at 85-90°F and high humidity for 10-14 days
- •Curing is essential converts starch to sugar and heals wounds
- •Handle like eggs they damage easily
Storage
Cured sweet potatoes store 6-10 months at 55-60°F. Never refrigerate.
Varieties
Beauregard
Most popular. Orange flesh. Good yield. 90 days.
Covington
Disease resistant. Sweet flavor. Great storage.
Georgia Jet
Quick maturing (90 days). Good for shorter seasons.
Japanese/Murasaki
Purple skin, white flesh. Dry, chestnut-like. Stores well.
Garnet
Deep orange. Very sweet and moist. "Yam" type.