To grow sweet potatoes successfully, follow these steps:
- Start with sweet potato cuttings called "slips" rather than tubers. These slips are young shoots grown from a mature sweet potato.
- Sweet potatoes need warm conditions, ideally temperatures between 21-26°C (70-80°F), full sun, and regular watering.
- Plant slip cuttings at least 30 cm (1 ft) apart in well-prepared soil or large containers with loose, moist, and well-draining soil. Preferably plant in ridges about 12 inches high to allow for good root growth.
- If planting outdoors, choose a warm, sheltered, sunny location or grow in a greenhouse. Use cloches or fleece to protect from frost or cold soil.
- Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply, especially during dry spells, but reduce water near harvest to prevent splitting.
- Sweet potatoes produce vines that can climb supports or be allowed to sprawl; vines shade out weeds once established.
- Mulch around plants with compost or manure to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Harvest occurs in early autumn, usually about 3-4 months after planting slips once foliage starts yellowing.
Sweet potatoes are tender plants requiring frost protection and warmth but can provide a good harvest each season with these conditions and care.
