Sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas, is an annual tuberous plant belonging to the Convolvulaceae family. It differs from the potato by its botanical family and unique characteristics. Rich in beta-carotene, sweet to the taste, decorative and generous, sweet potato deserves a prominent place in your garden.
🌞 Exposure and soil
- Exposure: Sweet potato requires full sun to develop properly.
- Soil: Prefers deep, humus-rich, permeable, well-drained, and rather light soil. Well-prepared soil promotes healthy growth and an abundant harvest.
🌡️ Temperature and planting
- Temperature: Sweet potato needs a temperature of at least 20 to 25 °C to develop its tubers. It is sensitive to cold and cannot tolerate temperatures below 15 °C.
- Planting: In regions with hot summers, planting can be done directly in the ground. In other regions, it is recommended to plant in pots or under a greenhouse to ensure an adequate temperature. Planting in the ground is generally done in April or May, when the soil temperature reaches at least 20 °C.
💧 Maintenance and watering
- Watering: Water regularly to keep the soil moist, especially during dry periods. Reduce watering shortly before harvesting the tubers.
- Maintenance: Weed and hoe the soil at the beginning of planting to remove weeds. Hill up the soil as soon as the plants develop well to promote tuber formation. Generous mulching can help retain soil moisture and limit weed growth.
📅 Harvest
- Period: Tubers are generally harvested in September and October, when the leaves start to yellow and the tubers have reached their maximum size.
- Storage: After harvesting, let the tubers air dry for a few hours before storing them in a cool, dry, and airy place. They can be stored for several months under good conditions.
🌱 Fertilaine tip for exceptional sweet potatoes
For larger tubers and a more generous harvest, consider incorporating Fertilaine into your soil when preparing the plots. Its natural formulation based on sheep's wool provides a progressive supply of nitrogen and essential nutrients, promoting root development and tuber quality. Fertilaine also helps maintain soil moisture, which is particularly useful for sweet potatoes, which like slightly moist but well-drained soil.
By combining careful planting, regular watering, and the addition of Fertilaine, your sweet potatoes will have all the conditions to develop fully and offer tasty and sweet harvests.