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SWEET POTATO SLIP PLANTING GUIDE - Organic Heirloom Gardens

SWEET POTATO SLIP PLANTING GUIDE - Organic Heirloom Gardens

Posted by Organic Heirloom Gardens on Mar 9th 2019

  • Common Name: Sweet Potato
  • Hardiness Zones: 3-11 (4-10 Most Ideal)
  • Plant Spacing: 12-18 Inches
  • Plant Depth: 6-10 inches (You can plant leaves under the ground if slips are large enough)
  • Row Spacing: 30-36 Inches
  • Soil: Well Drained, Fertile. Sweet Potatoes grow in almost anything that is loose.
  • When To Plant: Late Spring (When There Is Absolutely No Threat Of Frost)
  • Days To Maturity: 100+ (All Frost Free Days)

PLANTING STEP BY STEP

  1. WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR SLIPS PUT THEM IN WATER! FILL GLASS OR CUP, PUT THE ROOTS IN IT!
  2. Dig a trench for each row. 12-18 inches wide, 6-12 inches deep. Rows 30-36 inches apart.
  3. Break up and mix soil dug from trench with compost and/or loose soil. It is important the soil is loose!
  4. Lay slips in trench 12-18 inches apart.
  5. Cover slips with soil dug and mixed from trench. Do NOT fully cover but some leaves can be covered.
  6. Slips should be 6-10 inches deep. Again NEVER fully cover the slips, some leaves should be above soil.
  7. Rows should look like a “hill” in the middle. This allows water to drain off to the sides and not pond in rows.
  8. OPTIONAL: Side dress rows with compost.
  9. Water rows well to help get plants started.

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CARE

  • Side dress rows with compost about 4 weeks after planting. An organic fertilizer can be used as substitute.
  • Weed rows well. Do NOT prune vines.
  • Water plants when hot and dry. Stop extra watering 3 weeks before harvest.
  • Tip: Any vine covered in soil will root and grow more potatoes. You might be surprised with how many you get!
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PESTS & DISEASES

  • Fungal Leaf Disease
  • Some Beetles
  • Stem Rot
  • Sweet Potato Scurf
  • White Blister

HARVEST, CURING, & STORAGE

  • Harvest sweet potatoes just before first fall frost in cold areas. Warm areas harvest late fall, watch for dying leaves.
  • Use fork or shovel at side of rows to loosen soil. Grab plants at base and pull. Check Below for any additional tubers.
  • Let potatoes lay in sun for 1-3 days. (no rain) Carefully remove any clumps of dry dirt. DO NOT CLEAN.
  • CURING: Cure potatoes for 20-45 days at high temperature. 75-90 degrees Fahrenheit, 50% or less humidity.
  • Curing will bring out the sweetness in the potato and increase storage time.
  • Once cured store at room temperature 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Plenty of air flow.
  • DO NOT WASH/CLEAN POTATOES UNTIL READY TO USE. THE DIRT HELPS! :)

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