Growing purple sweet potatoes - Ask Extension
Hello,
Recently we bought some purple sweet potatoes for eating and became interested in trying to grow them. Here's the type that we bought, (Targ...
Knowledgebase
Growing purple sweet potatoes #824814
Asked April 07, 2023, 9:16 PM EDT
Hello,
Recently we bought some purple sweet potatoes for eating and became interested in trying to grow them. Here's the type that we bought, (Target has them).
https://www.friedas.com/products/stokes-purple-sweet-potato/
We went to the Internet to learn about growing them and it seems the best growing areas are in the South and it might be more difficult for us in Minnesota. We put some potatoes sideways in soil until a bunch of these slips popped up. The next step is to cut them off, put them in water and let the roots start. (Once they get started, the slips grow really fast). Here's one place that we found instructions, YouTube also has info.
https://ladyleeshome.com/growing-purple-sweet-potato-in-nc/
Do you have any thoughts about the best way to grow them here? Should they stay indoors until close to June? We'd appreciate any thoughts you might have.
Thanks,
Owen
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
This will be a challenge because the species is new and some people are having trouble with pests.
Here are good instructions. https://www.gardensall.com/stokes-purple-sweet-potatoes/
It includes comments on trellises, when to plant, and fertilizer.
This is a warm weather crop. Don't plant until about May 20 to June 1. Then it is 100-120 days to harvest. That is May 31 planting is harvest in mid-late September. This should be doable.
Good luck
In general, potatoes need a lot of mulch on them to increase yield, as the plant grows above ground add mulch and keep it at 4 inches thick for maximum yields. You can use grass clippings. Pine needles are good because they have the right acidity but they are expensive. Personally, I use small pine bark nuggets because they look nice.
If your property does not have jumping worms, do not use municipal compost unless it has been heated to 110 degrees.
Here are good instructions. https://www.gardensall.com/stokes-purple-sweet-potatoes/
It includes comments on trellises, when to plant, and fertilizer.
This is a warm weather crop. Don't plant until about May 20 to June 1. Then it is 100-120 days to harvest. That is May 31 planting is harvest in mid-late September. This should be doable.
Good luck
In general, potatoes need a lot of mulch on them to increase yield, as the plant grows above ground add mulch and keep it at 4 inches thick for maximum yields. You can use grass clippings. Pine needles are good because they have the right acidity but they are expensive. Personally, I use small pine bark nuggets because they look nice.
If your property does not have jumping worms, do not use municipal compost unless it has been heated to 110 degrees.
