Plant in a reliably sunny spot. Best in fertile, well-drained soil. Keep soil moist, watering freely in dry weather. Harvest and dry tubers before autumn frost. Cure the harvest for 1-2 weeks, and then store the sweet potatoes in a cool humid location.
Water once a week.
Fertile, well-drained soil.
Feed every 4 weeks with a fertilizer low in nitrogen, higher in phosphorus and potassium (such as 5-10-10)
‘Beauregard’ is one of the most popular Sweet Potato varieties and sets the standard for flavor and a relatively short number of days until harvest. The skin is reddish with moist, tasty sweet orange flesh. This selection is resistant to soil rot and white grub.
Delicious when sliced in half and baked with oil and herbs. Wonderful when wrapped in foil and roasted on the grill. An excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Wash fruits, vegetables and herbs thoroughly before eating.
Select a sunny site, away from trees and close to a water source if possible.
Prepare the garden by breaking up the existing soil (use a hoe, spade, or power tiller) to a depth of 3-6” (8-15cm). Add organic matter such as manure, peat moss or garden compost until the soil is loose and easy to work. Organic ingredients improve drainage, add nutrients, and encourage earthworms and other organisms that help keep soil healthy. Give plants an extra boost by adding a granulated fertilizer formulated for vegetables or and all-purpose feed (such as a fertilizer labeled 5-10-5).
Remove the plant from the container. If plants are in a pack, gently squeeze the outside of the individual plant cell while tipping container to the side. If plant doesn’t loosen, continue pressing on the outside of the container while gently grasping the base of the plant and tugging carefully so as not to crush or break the stem until the plant is released. If the plant is in a pot, brace the base of the plant, tip it sideways and tap the outside of the pot to loosen. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot.
Dig the hole up to two times larger than the root ball and deep enough that the plant will be at the same level in the ground as the soil level in the container. Grasping the plant at the top of the root ball, use your finger to lightly rake apart the lower roots apart. This is especially important if the roots are dense and have filled up the container. Set the plant in the hole.
Check the plant label for suggested spacing and the mature height of the plant. Position plants so that taller plants are in the center or background of the garden and shorter plants in the foreground.
Plan ahead for plants that get tall and require staking or support cages. It’s best to install cages early in the spring, at planting time, before the foliage gets bushy. Vining vegetables can occupy a lot of space, so provide a trellis,
Consistent moisture is the key to growing a great crop of sweet potatoes. In the field sweet potatoes do best with 1-2” (3-5cm) of water per week. In the confines of a bag or container the soil may dry out more quickly depending on the weather so it is important to actually check the soil moisture. Check the soil with your finger or gently lift some soil with a small trowel to observe how moist it is. If the top 2-4” (5-10cm) of soil is dry, or plants are starting to wilt, it is time to water.
Keep in mind that the sweet potatoes are growing underground and will not do well in soggy wet soil. Even if the plant foliage looks okay, if the soil is noticeably waterlogged this could cause problems with the development of the sweet potatoes. Take care not to overwater as well.
Sweet potato plants produce attractive little flowers, but because the focus is on root development, not flowering, it is okay to pinch off flowers. This will encourage the plant’s energy to go into the development of roots and potatoes instead of flowering and seed production.
Sweet potato vines spread along the ground, trail over container edges or can be trained up a trellis. Do not trim the vines, since they are capturing energy to feed the growing sweet potatoes underground, but they can be redirected or trained to grow in another direction.
Plants should be fertilized every 4 weeks, ending approximately two weeks before harvest. Choose a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus and potassium and lowest in nitrogen. This nutritional balance will encourage the best root (sweet potato) development. A granulated 5-10-10 fertilizer or liquid equivalent should do the job. Be sure to read package directions for any special precautions and information on the best method of application.
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