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

18 Dec 12, Nyasha (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I am growing sweet potatoes for the first time. Got the tubers from the supermarket and kept them in my veggie drawer until they sprouted (approx. 1 month). I planted out 4 tubers in an area 3m x3m in August. I was told each vine would only reach 2 metres, but mine are growing a bit wild. I have had to cut the tips of the vines off because I have ran out of space. How often should sweet potatoes be watered?
17 Dec 12, Simone (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have wanted to grow sweet pot for few years now. What size plot do we need for sweet potato? How big does a single tuber grow to?
27 Nov 13, Elizabeth (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grow mine in a 1m square bed they grow as much as you let them. the tubers can grow huge depending on how long they have in the ground at the right temperatures. My last lot seemed to be fairly small but i think i dug them up to soon, 20 cm long and 5cm diameter.
20 May 13, Wayne (Australia - temperate climate)
You can also grow in a very small plot - they grow suprisingly well suspended in a glass of water on the window sill. Use a few toothpicks to support on surface of water
28 Jan 13, Kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
You need an area that will allow the runners that will grow from the cut pieces of tubers to run over a large area, Mine grow over approx 6x6 metres and still want to spread. Tubers can grow up to at least around 2 kilos or more.
01 Jul 12, Peter Jakob (Australia - temperate climate)
i am living in melbourne has anyone grown maori kumara in Australia or is it possible to do so?
23 Aug 12, Ferry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i have been growing sweet potatoes for about two years i am still tweaking things to see what works best but it is defiantly possible. i live in the central coast and i harvested my first two of the season two days ago. i found it easier to start from a roots i got from a friend, that had started sprouting rather than planting seeds. they need quite a bit of sun but not full sun through the hottest of summer. i started with 3 roots with multiple spouts and harvested none in the first year to double my plants. this year i had to cut back half of them as i did not have room! some garden shops sell ornamental sweet potato that is not edible. my ones tasted just like sweet potato but fresher. my favorite way of eating them are peeled raw in salads, in pumpkin soup or lightly fried as a side
17 May 12, Aaron (New Zealand - temperate climate)
hi what is the best way to store kumara thanks
28 Mar 12, Raelene (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm not sure if it's the same type of sweet potato, but in Asia we eat the leaves - cook them lightly like spinach. From the photo on right it looks the same - I have just been given some shoots.... (Bear in mind this is different to potato leaves which cannot be eaten!)
21 Mar 12, Malina Beatrice (USA - Zone 10a climate)
I found Kumara at Whole Foods in Encino, but they had them labeled "Japanese Sweet Potato." If I hadn't just seen them on a trip to NZ, I never would have known! Hope it helps.
Showing 251 - 260 of 310 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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