How to Grow Sweet Potatoes: Ultimate Care Guide

Growing sweet potatoes can be a rewarding experience if you follow a few key steps.  

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Choose the Right Variety  

Select a sweet potato variety suited to your climate and soil type.   

1

Popular types include Beauregard, Jewel, and Covington. For regions with shorter growing seasons, consider varieties with a quicker maturation period.  

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Prepare the Soil  

Sweet potatoes thrive in well-drained, sandy loam soils. Before planting, enrich the soil with compost or aged manure to ensure it’s nutrient-rich.   

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Aim for a pH level between 5.8 and 6.2. Raised beds or mounds can also improve drainage.  

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Plant Properly  

Start with healthy slips (young shoots) rather than whole sweet potatoes. Plant slips after the last frost when the soil temperature is consistently above 65°F (18°C).  

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Space them 12-18 inches apart in rows that are 3 feet apart. Bury the slips up to the first set of leaves.  

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Watering and Fertilization

Sweet potatoes need constant moisture, especially early on. Regular watering keeps soil wet but not soggy.  

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Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal diseases. Fertilize with a balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer at planting and again midway through the growing season.  

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Harvest and Store  

Sweet potatoes are typically ready for harvest 90-120 days after planting. Harvest before the first frost.   

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Gently dig them up with a fork, being careful not to puncture the tubers. Cure the sweet potatoes in a warm, humid atmosphere for about 10 days to boost flavor and storage life.   

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