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

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04 Oct 19, Rachel Barley (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
They're ON the internet, anonymous.
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30 Jun 19, Ev (Australia - tropical climate)
I find that the purple ones grow the best in my garden. Problem is I have miles of plant and not so many tubers. Going to use some of the advice I have read on this page and feed with seaweed.
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03 Jul 19, (Australia - arid climate)
Don't fertilise with nitrogen.
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27 Jun 19, Ana (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Try this page: https://www.koanga.org.nz/grow-great-kumara/. They have the most thorough advice on growing kumara that I've seen.
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12 Apr 19, June Wark (Australia - temperate climate)
I’ve got orange sweet potato slips growing but your table @page top states not suitable for growing temp. zones - could you tell me why please. Very willing to learn as l’m new to growing veggies. Thank you.
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26 Apr 19, Graham smith (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi June. I plant a sweet potatoe around August or September and let it grow wild. Then I take cuttings from that about 3weeks before Christmas and plant them out ,making sure I water them in really well for the first week or so. Then I harvest them just after the first frost with pretty good success.
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06 Apr 19, Sam (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi there.. I harvested my Kumara in March and unfortunately most of them tubers had multiple small holes in them. Looks like some type of insects got there first and ruined it. Is there anything that I can spray them with and kill them little bugs before they ruin my crops next season.. cheers
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12 Jul 20, Brendan (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I've had good success planting an overwintering crop of mustard seeds immediately following kumara harvest.
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23 Mar 19, Zukile (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where can i get seed for sweet potato in south africa or eastern cape ?
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09 Mar 19, Andrea (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi there,I live in chilly chch but want to attempt to grow kumera. I had one sprouting so I cut it in half and put it in water and now it's sprouting . But it's the wrong time of yr,March to plant them . How can I keep my sprout until October ? Thanks
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Showing 81 - 90 of 309 comments
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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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