Growing Sweet Potato, also Kumara

Ipomoea batatas : Convolvulaceae / the morning glory family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
P               P P P P

(Best months for growing Sweet Potato in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • P = Plant crowns
  • Plant shoots or cuttings (Slips). Best planted at soil temperatures between 17°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 40 - 60 cm apart
  • Harvest in 15-17 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best in Separate bed

Your comments and tips

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03 Jul 19, (Australia - arid climate)
Don't fertilise with nitrogen.
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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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07 Mar 19, Bruce (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live on the Sunshine Coast Qld and I am trying to source runners or tubers of the NZ Kumara, if anyone has some available I’m willing to purchase, the Aussie sweet potato is so so different.
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15 Dec 19, Greg (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Bruce I live just up from the sunny coast,I know someone who grows them,but not got any at this time.did you have any luck.
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15 Jan 20, Bruce (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Greg, short answer no. Had no luck getting the NZ kumara, can you get them . Willing to pickup or pay postage , oh for some NZ kumara so so different. Cheers Bruce
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15 Jun 19, Chris Herden (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Bruce. I have cuttings available of the new zealand kumara. I can send phot if you wish. How many were you after? I am based in Lismore and Hunter Valley, NSW.
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09 Nov 19, Bruce Windsor (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Chris, sorry for the late reply, I am really interested in the NZ kumara if you can email me pic or contact me I live on Sunshine Coast QLD Thanks Bruce
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08 Mar 19, Erin (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, I have Beauregard sweet potato if that is a nz variety?
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12 Apr 19, Bruce (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Unfortunately that one isn’t the NZ kumara
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Showing 31 - 40 of 194 comments
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I talked to a commercial grower yesterday. Fertilise the ground before you plant. What fertiliser you use depends on how fertile your soil is. You would need a soil test to really find that out. But fertiliser with a reasonable amount of N, good P and high K. Mix this through the soil profile. If you cut off slips, make them about .4m long, strip off most of the leaves but leave the growing head part. Dig a furrow 50-75mm deep and place the slip in the furrow (place the slip level in the soil). Cover the slip over with soil but leave the growing bit sticking out of the soil. You could put the slips in a jar of water for a week or so to start the roots growing. Once you have planted the slip make sure it is watered for the next week, lIke each day. The soil around the slip has to be wet for the roots to shoot and grow. After a week or so you should notice the plant growing. The slip will produce sweet potatoes from where you stripped the leaves off giving a higher yield of crop. If the vines grow really long then I believe too high N, but I was told they need plenty of N. I was mainly asking about the placement of the slip but will ask more about the fertiliser next time.

- anon

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