How to Plant Sweet Potatoes in Your Backyard, According to Experts
Planting sweet potatoes in your backyard can be a rewarding experience. With a little preparation and care, you can grow your own nutritious and delicious sweet potatoes. Here's how experts recommend planting them:
Choose the Right Variety
Select a variety of sweet potato that’s suited to your climate and growing season. Some popular varieties include Beauregard, Covington, and Jersey.
Prepare the Soil
Sweet potatoes thrive in well-draining, loose, and slightly sandy soil. Ideally, the pH level should be between 5.8 and 6.2. Before planting, amend your soil with compost to ensure it's nutrient-rich.
Start with Slips
Sweet potatoes are grown from "slips," which are small shoots that sprout from a mature sweet potato. You can buy slips from a nursery or grow your own by placing a sweet potato in water until it sprouts.
Plant in Warm Soil
Wait until the soil is consistently warm (around 70°F or 21°C) before planting, as sweet potatoes need warmth to grow. Plant slips 12-18 inches apart in rows that are about 3 feet apart.
Water and Mulch
Water sweet potatoes regularly, especially in dry periods, but avoid overwatering, as they don’t like soggy soil. Mulching around the plants helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Provide Plenty of Sunlight
Sweet potatoes need full sun to grow, so choose a location with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Watch for Pests
While sweet potatoes are generally low-maintenance, be aware of pests like beetles and aphids. Use organic pest control methods if necessary.
Harvest at the Right Time
Sweet potatoes are ready to harvest when the vines start to yellow and die back. This usually happens around 90-170 days after planting, depending on the variety. Carefully dig around the base of the plant to avoid damaging the tubers.