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

15 Mar 22, (USA - Zone 4a climate)
Read the posting here in the New Zealand section - I just put a reply there about growing Sweet Pots.
27 Aug 21, Kirk McCoy (USA - Zone 10a climate)
If your sweet potatoes wont sprout it is because commercial growers spray them with a anti sprouting chemical. It can be removed buy giving your sweet potatoes a ascorbic acid bath for 15 minutes then rinsing. I use 2 tsp in a half gallon of water. you could also use crushed vitamin C pills.
19 Jun 22, Maria (USA - Zone 10a climate)
Thanks for the tip! I am trying for the first time and will do this :)
25 Jun 21, Tina Lloyd (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I want to try and grow nz Kumara / sweet potato I live in Ararat Victoria. And where can I buy slips please. Thanks
01 Jul 21, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Plant a couple of sweet potatoes and use the slips from them. Use the new vine part. Strip most of the leaves off a 250-300mm piece. Did trench and lay flat with the growing tip out of the ground. Water a lot the first 2 weeks. That is the way commercial growers plant sweet potato in Qld
18 Jun 21, Khandi (USA - Zone 8a climate)
Can I plant my sweet potato slips in the ground now? I’m in Zones 7B & 8A. (SE Alabama)
29 Jun 21, (USA - Zone 8a climate)
It does say April to June.
04 Dec 20, Brian (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
My first attempt of growing Kumara was in heavy duty cardboard box, with a rigid base to stop the runner escaping. 1.5 kg tuber was harvested from one slip, I was impressed. Second year was in an old bath in full sun, 5 slips, harvest revealed a lot of small tubers. 3 kg. This year, 2020, I will combine my efforts in cardboard boxes again and the another bath. Layers of cardboard in the bottom of bath with mixture of compost, vermicast, gritty sand, soil and pea straw to preserve the slips from being removed by Wekas and or Pukekos. Liqiud fertilizer will be added to the new beds before planting, Intend to harvest before May 2012.
21 Nov 20, Len Lind (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I would like to try growing kumera here on Stewart Island in a tunnelhouse. Is there anywhere I can buy sprouts, slips?
18 Nov 20, Aitaua (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hi.. Can these sweet potatoes useful for planting here in Samoa?
Showing 41 - 50 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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