Sweet Potato Growing Guide

Ipomoea batatas

Crop Rotation Group

Solanaceae (Potato and tomato family) ●

Soil

Light, sandy soil best, but can adapt to any fertile, well drained soil.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

No.

Feeding

Mix a good organic compost into the soil before planting.

Spacing

Single Plants: 45cm (1' 5") each way (minimum)
Rows: 45cm (1' 5") with 60cm (1' 11") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Plant 'slips' that grow from sprouting tubers in mid to late spring after the soil has warmed up
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Sweet potatoes form a dense green ground cover, thriving in hot summer conditions. Tubers are often found 12 inches or more from the plant's primary crown, so dig carefully. Although not from the solanaceae family, sweet potatoes are often placed in that group for crop rotation purposes because they share several important pests and diseases such as wireworms and nematodes which is why we show it as solanaceae.

Harvesting

Dig in autumn when the soil is still warm. Cure in a warm, airy place for two weeks before storing at cool room temperatures.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Sweet Potato

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail