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 light application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil before planting.

Spacing

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

Sow and Plant

Plant 'slips' that grow from sprouting tubers in late spring or early summer, after the soil is very warm.
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 under 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 fall 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