Growing Sweet Potato, also Kumara

Ipomoea batatas : Convolvulaceae / the morning glory family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec

Not recommended for growing in USA - Zone 5a regions

  • Plant shoots or cuttings (Slips). Best planted at soil temperatures between 63°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 16 - 24 inches apart
  • Harvest in 15-17 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best in Separate bed

Your comments and tips

01 Sep 17, Roscoe (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We live in the Brisbane Valley. Our sweet potatoes never die off.
04 Sep 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It is perennial - will grow for a few years.
06 Jun 17, Jennie (Australia - temperate climate)
I was interested to see that you have Kumara listed as not recommended for temperate zones. Mine come up like weeds on the south coast of WA and are prolific producers.
05 Jun 17, Leonie Haynes (Australia - temperate climate)
Just a silly thought of mine, is it possible to grow a tuber in a pot inside the house. Our wood fire is going 24/7, somewhere between 18 to 24 degrees. Whats ppls thoughts. Thanks Leonie xx
06 Jun 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Most if not all plants need some sunlight. Photosynthesis is the chemical process used in plants to convert energy in the form of sunlight into chemical energy in the form of sugars or other carbohydrates. The general process involves the combination of carbon dioxide, water and light energy to produce oxygen and carbohydrates. In plants and algae, this process occurs in an organelle called the chloroplast. Some types of bacteria perform photosynthesis in a slightly different process which does not produce oxygen.
08 Jun 17, Leonie Haynes (Australia - temperate climate)
Thankyou Mike for that informative information. I might try to start them in the house a month or 2 earlier, like a hot house then place them out. We dont have the long summer that they require, never know it might just work. God bless Mike.
21 Jun 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
They grow them all year round in Bundaberg - even during winter. Temps 4-15, av about 10-11 in winter at night. Low 20's in the day.
23 May 17, Annie Davis (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I am also trying to find out if there is such a thing as kumara "seeds" and where they can be found?
24 Jun 18, Richard Clough (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Annie...We simply bought a small kumara from a local supermarket, suspended it with toothpicks in a cut off coke bottle of water. When the shoots, or "slips" began to sprout (2-3wks) we then placed them in a small jam jar of water until roots began to develop, then planted out in fish bins of potting mix. We were late- late Dec & Jan, have just harvested. A lot were long & skinny, but perfect for the hot air cooker & crockpot. Some were like the shop sizes! We ended up with about 3-4 kg from a single 300g kumara (it's still growing sprouts on the laundry windowsill)! Hope this helps someone out there. Best wishes...
28 May 17, toya (New Zealand - temperate climate)
If your lucky you can find some at local garden places for tipu which you can grow out of the kumara tubers by place half of it into water.. they should grow stems/vines which you can snap off & placing those into water to help roots grow... or just cut sections of the tuber off..... but when planting them... they need that late spring early summer heat. Then harvest around now or when frosty etc...... just my 5 cents here lol
Showing 151 - 160 of 309 comments

I live in the Redlands on the sourthern outskirts of Brisbane. I am trying to grow sweet potatoes for the first time. I have grown my own slips and planted them out and the vines are growing nicely. What I would like to know is where do the tubers grow from. Is it from the base of the slip or from the vines. Also I only have one vine growing from each plant. Do I need more than one vine and if so how do I encourage the extra vines.

- bernie

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