Growing sweet potato in your own garden
The sweet potato is very much on trend – and with a little warmth it can be grown successfully here too. Botanically it is not a potato but related to morning glory and forms long, decorative shoots. Its sweet tubers are versatile, healthy and store well.
The most important thing: the sweet potato loves warmth and sun and is grown from young plants (slips), not from seed.
In short
- Sweet potatoes love warmth, sun and a loose, humus-rich soil.
- Grown from young plants/slips, only outdoors after the Ice Saints.
- A ridge/mound and black mulch film store extra warmth.
- Harvest before the first frost, then cure (ripen) them.
What sweet potatoes need
Sweet potatoes need a full-sun, warm spot and a long, warm season. The soil should be loose, deep and humus-rich so the tubers develop well. In cooler regions cultivation succeeds especially well in the greenhouse, in the raised bed or with black mulch film that warms the soil.
Planting and care
Set the young plants only after the Ice Saints (mid-May), when the soil is warm. A heaped ridge with about 30 cm spacing has proven itself. Water evenly, especially in the growth phase, but fertilise only sparingly – too much nitrogen encourages foliage at the expense of tubers. The shoots can simply be left to grow.
Harvest and storage
Harvest before the first frost, usually in October when the foliage turns yellow. Dig up the tubers carefully. Then they should cure for a few days in a warm, airy place – this makes them sweeter and storable. After that, store cool (but not below 10 °C) and dry.
Frequently asked questions
Can I propagate sweet potatoes from the supermarket?
In principle yes, by growing slips – but bought tubers are often treated to inhibit sprouting. Certified young plants are more reliable.
How long does cultivation take?
From planting to harvest about 4–5 months – which is why the early, warm start is so important.
Tip
Lay black mulch film over the ridge: it warms the soil, keeps it moist and weed-free – this noticeably boosts the yield in cooler regions.
Caution
Sweet potatoes are absolutely frost-sensitive. Never plant out before the Ice Saints and harvest in good time before the first frost.
For a safe start, strong sweet-potato young plants are ideal. We raise ours robust and ready to plant.