Sweet Potato Questions

Briar Hill Brittanys · Feb 8, 2011

I want to grow some in our garden this year. Do they produce pretty good? Will they grow good in rows next to regular spuds? How much would you plant for a family of 3? Where do you get your seed stock? Don't think I've ever seen them around these parts. Looking for a few general growing tips here. Thanks! Mark

Charlie M · Feb 8, 2011

I've grown a few and bought plants from a seed catalog. I'm in western NY so its a pretty short list of varieties that will grow here. I hilled up a row and planted the plants in the hill. They spread out some, like a vine. You can dig them anytime they get enough size. Mine wouldn't store for more than a month but it could be they weren't mature enought store.

okierob · Feb 8, 2011

do a search for sweet potato slips. or buy a sweet potato in the grocery store, put some tooth picks in it about 2/3 up and put the lower end in a quart jar full of water. then wait for the vines to grow out. then you will have your own slips to plant.

greenbeanman in Kansas · Feb 9, 2011

This sales company has some good growing information on sweet potatoes. I've never ordered from them but they have a high reputation from those that do.

I read this past year, and just as another poster said, it is best to throw up a mound or ridge of soil and plant them on the top of it. Irish potatoes need hilled but sweet potatoes do not.
Steele Plant Company

Anonymous-0 · Feb 9, 2011

They are easy to grow. 20 plants will be more than enough. I have been sprouting my own plants for several years. Just save 4 or 5 nice sized potatoes and put them in dirt or water when the weather gets warm and sprouts will come. I hill the row and put plants about 18 inces apart. Allow about 5 ft on each side of the row for plants to run. In TN I plant middle to late May and dig about the middle of August

Briar Hill Brittanys · Feb 10, 2011

Thanks for the replies. I remember Mom doing the toothpick thing one year after Thanksgiving. Made a nice green vine in the kitchen window. I'll have to do it for my daughter. I take it you cut the potato apart to have several slips (vines) to plant? Looking forward to getting that garden started, won't be long. Mark

okierob · Feb 10, 2011

you can just twist or cut the vine from the potato. you dont really need any potato with the slip when you plant.

Sweet Potato Questions

Briar Hill Brittanys

Well-known Member

Charlie M

Well-known Member

okierob

Member

greenbeanman in Kansas

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Briar Hill Brittanys

Well-known Member

okierob

Member

Similar threads