What is a sweet potato? Even though sweet potatoes originated from Central and South America (the same as potatoes), they are not related to potatoes. Sweet potatoes belong to the bindweed or morning glory family. Let's do a deep dive into all things about how to grow sweet potatoes.

How To Grow Sweet Potatoes - Fun Facts

This tropical crop needs at least four months of warm weather and warm soil, but they are drought- and heat-tolerant and have few pests or diseases. Compare a sweet potato vine’s foliage and flowers to those of morning glory and you’ll see the family resemblance. Sweet potatoes are not yams, which are related to grasses and lilies. They’re also not related to regular white potatoes, which belong to the nightshade family, versus the morning glory family. As mentioned above, potatoes’ edible portion is a true tuber, while sweet potatoes produce tuberous roots.They were used in folk remedies to treat asthma, night blindness, and diarrhea.

Recommended Varieties

The fastest-growing sweet potato varieties have orange flesh, but you might also consider varieties with white, yellow, or even purple flesh. Note that orange-flesh varieties cook up moist; white and yellow sweet potatoes become creamy; purple sweets are dry and starchy.

‘Beauregard’ (90 days) originally comes from Louisiana but grows well in the north, too. It has dark red roots, and dark orange flesh, and stores well.‘Bush Porto Rico’ (110 days) is good for small gardens and for baking.‘Centennial’ (100 days) is the leading variety in the U.S. It is carrot-colored and has a good storage life. It is also a good producer for northern growers.‘Georgia Jet’ (90 days); Red skin covers moist, deep orange flesh. Extremely fast-growing type; good for the North.Jewel’ (aka ‘Yellow Jewel’)(120 days) has copper-colored skin and orange flesh; disease-resistant; stores well.‘Stokes’ (120 days) offers vibrant purple color and is full of extra health benefits; cooks well in savory dishes and mashes.‘Vardaman’ (110 days) is a bush type and good for small gardens; it has unique blue/purple foliage, golden skin, and reddish-orange flesh; stores well.‘White Yam’ (100 days); also called ‘White Triumph’. White skin covers dry white flesh. One of the oldest sweet potato varieties. Has compact vines.

When To Plant

Plant slips outdoors 3 to 4 weeks after your last spring frost or once the soil has warmed to at least 65°F (18°C). Nighttime temperatures should be at least 55°F (13°C). The trick is to plant them early enough for them to have time to mature fully, but not so early that they get killed by a late spring frost.Be sure to protect young sweet potatoes from any late frosts or cool nights (lower than 55°F/13°C), as they are very tender. Cover them with plastic milk jugs or use row covers, removing the covers during the day.If you ordered slips from a mail-order source, unpack them right away. Stick the roots in water for a day or so and they’ll perk up. Plant them as soon as conditions are right

How To Plant

Plant the slips on a warm, overcast day, when the soil temperature has reached 60°F (15°C).Break off the lower leaves, leaving only the top ones.Set the slips deep enough to cover the roots and the stem up to the leaves. Sweet potatoes will form on the nodes.Water with a high-phosphorus liquid fertilizer, then water generously for 7 to 10 days to make sure that the plants root well.

Common Pest and Diseases

Flea beetles: Numerous tiny holes in leaves. Use row covers; mulch heavily; add native plants to invite beneficial insectsFusarium wilt: Yellow/puckered leaves; older leaves drop; wilting vines; plants eventually die; stems under-/near ground may appear slightly blue; ...