GROWING GUIDE - SWEET POTATOES
Looking to grow beautiful, healthy swpot in your garden? You've come to the right place! This comprehensive growing guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from planting to harvest.
QUICK FACTS
- Harvest: The Roots Later In The Season
- Suitable for Canadian growing conditions
- Follow package instructions for best results
- Contact T&T Seeds for personalized growing advice
PLANTING
Space sweet potato slips 12-18 in. apart. In small spaces, they can be planted as close as 8 inches apart but will require more frequent watering. Sweet potatoes thrive in soil enriched with compost, fish emulsion, seaweed, and other natural fertilizers.
However, avoid over-fertilizing, as excessive nutrients encourage leaf growth at the expense of root development. Like tomato plants, sweet potatoes sprout roots along their stems in warm conditions. To promote strong root growth, plant slips with only 1-2 leaves above the soil, ensuring maximum soil contact with the stem.
Planting at a slight angle can also help. Water well for the first few weeks to establish a strong root system that will support the plant through hot weather.
WHERE & WHEN TO PLANT
Sweet potatoes are true heat-loving plants and should only be planted after the soil has warmed and the risk of frost has passed. In Manitoba, the first week of June is the ideal planting time. Choose the sunniest location possible, sweet potatoes tolerate extreme heat well.
They can even thrive in planters surrounded by hot concrete or microclimates near buildings where they receive extra warmth, especially on cool spring or fall nights. For the best root development and easier harvesting, plant in loose, well-drained soil. Slightly hilling the rows helps locate and harvest the roots later in the season.
Sweet potatoes prefer average soil and do well in sandy conditions but can also adapt to heavy clay soil. Clay soil warms slowly in spring, so pre-warming it before planting can improve results. Since sweet potatoes grow as sprawling vines, allow at least 4ft. of space for them to spread.
Their roots develop primarily within 12 in. beneath the plant, though some may grow up to 18 in. away. Well-dug, loose soil will make harvesting easier when the season ends.
READY TO START GROWING?
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