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

12 Oct 11, Sean Gallagher (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can you grow from store bought Sweet Potato
19 Sep 13, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
I grew a crop from store bought sweet potatoes - just have to wait for them to start shooting then plant to leave the shoot tips (with 2 small leaves) showing . I have had good crops for a couple of years with minimal attention other than normal weeding and watering.
02 Sep 11, Simon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, I tried growing sweet potato here in Lismore, NSW. The plant grew well, but when it came to harvesting the tubers, I found that they were riddled with small white grubs. I have tried to google what the grub is and how I can control it (for next season) but the information is limited. Has anyone got any idea what the grub might be and how I could control them? Thanks Simon
05 Nov 12, Danielle (Australia - temperate climate)
Google nematodes Simon....also could be carrot fly larvae if you have grown carrots close by
23 Aug 11, Savi (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it possible to grow s/potato in Melbourne? If yes, when is the best time to plant them? Thanks!
03 Aug 11, georgi (Australia - tropical climate)
i plant all year round
21 May 11, Nikko (Australia - tropical climate)
Sweet pot grow well in the Brisbane area all year. Just a guide for fellow brisbanites if u live in a frost free area of bris ie bayside, use the tropical setting, sub tropical is more based on the Sydney area and from experience have learnt if u follow tropical instructions, u get heaps more luck. Give it a go.
01 May 11, Mark (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live in the Hunter Valley and the major supermarkets stock gold swt potato all the time.I believe they grow like regular potatos, so try buying some and store them in the cupbaord until they shoot.
11 May 11, Carrie (Australia - temperate climate)
They don't grow like regular potatoes and some of our customers have suggested they have harvested up to 40kg off the one tuber. Good stuff.
20 May 11, syd smith (Australia - temperate climate)
the wife looks after our sweetpotato and although she does plant part of the actual potato she mainly gets some of the runners with roots on and plants them in a differant part of the garden and she gets plenty off them,so need to spend money on buying s/pots
Showing 261 - 270 of 307 comments

Sweet potatoes are not planted as whole tubers like regular potatoes. Instead, they are grown from sweet potato slips, which are sprouts taken from mature sweet potatoes. Just twist off the slips, root them in water, and then plant them to grow sweet potatoes

- Anonymous

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