Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are a warm-season, tuberous root vegetable known for their sweet, starchy flavor and nutrient-rich flesh. They are often confused with yams but are botanically distinct.

Starting Sweet Potato Plants

Sweet potatoes are typically grown from slips, which are sprouts grown from mature sweet potatoes. To produce slips, place a sweet potato in a jar of water with the tip submerged, and allow it to sprout. Once the sprouts are 6-8 inches long, remove them from the potato and plant them directly in the garden, about 3-4 weeks after the last frost date.

Growing Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes prefer full sun and well-draining soil. They are heat-loving plants that thrive in warm temperatures and require a long growing season. Space slips 12-18 inches apart in rows 3-4 feet apart. Sweet potatoes have a spreading, vining growth habit and benefit from regular watering and mulching to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Harvesting Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are typically ready to harvest 90-120 days after planting, or when the leaves begin to turn yellow. Gently dig around the plants with a fork or shovel, being careful not to damage the delicate skin of the tubers. Cure the harvested sweet potatoes by storing them in a warm (80-85°F), humid place for 7-10 days to improve their flavor and storage life. After curing, store the tubers in a cool, dry place for up to several months.

Harvesting Sweet Potato Seeds

Sweet potatoes rarely produce flowers and seeds, as they are typically propagated through slips. However, if a plant does flower and produce seeds, collect them when the seed pods have turned brown and dry. Store seeds in a cool, dry place.

Sweet Potato Varieties

There are many varieties of sweet potatoes, with flesh colors ranging from white to yellow, orange, and purple. Some popular varieties include:

• Beauregard Sweet Potato: A widely grown, orange-fleshed variety with a sweet, moist texture.
• Jewel Sweet Potato: An orange-fleshed variety with a slightly drier texture than Beauregard.
• Garnet Sweet Potato: A variety with deep red skin and orange flesh, known for its sweet, moist texture.
• Okinawan Sweet Potato: A variety with purple skin and flesh, known for its slightly nutty flavor and high antioxidant content.

Uses

Sweet potatoes are versatile in cooking and can be prepared in various ways:

• Baked, boiled, or roasted and served as a side dish
• Mashed or puréed and used in pies, casseroles, or as a topping for shepherd's pie
• Cut into wedges or fries and baked or fried
• Added to soups, stews, and curries
• Grilled or sautéed for a smoky or crispy texture
• The young leaves and shoots of sweet potato plants can also be cooked and eaten as greens.