Growing Sweet Potato, also Kumara

07 Aug 16 la potager dreamer (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Im looking to have a go at growing purple kumera. My fatherinlaw would cut them in half flat side down in saucer of water to get it sprouting then plant. Which is best horse or chook manure?
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27 Aug 16 Gerard Plant (Australia - temperate climate): It's best to use dried out cow manure, which has been broken up into a almost powdered state and dug into the soil below where you are going to put the sprouts, before planting. You can do this by putting the cow pads into a cement mixer with a few old 1/2 bricks and tumbled for 1/2 hr or so, or just using a shovel on a hard surface. Concrete path etc. Just bust them and pulverise as best you can. Don't use fresh manure under any circumstance. Horse manure is pretty useless and has too much acid, while chook manure is best just laid on top of soil around the plants after a good showing of leaf from the runners. Best to use something like Organic Life or Dynamic Lifter, chook manure that has been treated. So every time you water, the nutrients will just seep into the soil at an even rate. A small sprinkling of garden lime dug in with the cow manure is a good idea too. If you ever come across the original white sweet potato, plant them too. Much better texture and taste, than the purple. Anyway....best of luck !
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