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

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
17 Mar 11, Kim Davies (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I ate kumara everyday when visiting NZ and loved it! Because it was less sweet than USA sweet potatoes. I am craving it and need to find out how and if I can get seeds and grow it in Virginia? Would love your help on this!
22 Dec 10, neil (Australia - tropical climate)
I read an artical about Sweet Potato/Kumara that planting in wet weather is not a good idea. It went on, to wait until it drys up a little then plant, about April?
04 Aug 11, georgi (Australia - tropical climate)
hi neil i plant all year round, wet or dry
11 Oct 10, (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Melbourne and a ex Kiwi. Can you tell me please if one is able to but the NZ kumaras here?
02 Feb 12, kate azzopardi (Australia - temperate climate)
yes u can. i've seen them at the dandenong market. i've seen them at only a few stalls towards the back. not knowing what they were, my kiwi friend that was with me filled me in. they're open tues/fri/sat. great for meat and top quaity fruit and vegies..
11 May 11, Carrie (Australia - temperate climate)
I work for a company which sells sweet potato and the Kumaras you talk about sound like what we call Beauregard orange in flesh and skin.
14 Aug 10, Lisa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Has anyone had luck planting kumera/sweet potato (any type) in cool zones? If I protect from frost and wind would it be possible..and where to get the plants (especially purple) ?
06 Aug 10, Jo Hyland (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What soil conditions best suit the sweet potato, as far as the pH goes? And are they a high yield plant, or do they produce relatively few tubers, requiring a large crop to be planted? I would like a decent crop, as I go through at least a kilo of them a week - sometimes more.
19 Jul 10, Joanne Lockyer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi we recently went to NZ for a holiday and were quite impressed by Kumara. Where can I located some plants in Australia as we would like to try and grow our own. thanks
Showing 271 - 280 of 308 comments

I would like to try growing kumera here on Stewart Island in a tunnelhouse. Is there anywhere I can buy sprouts, slips?

- Len Lind

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