Sweet Potato: Family Staple, Zone 6

Sweet potatoes are a staple at my house. Not only do they taste delicious but they are high in nutrients and store well. In addition, they are hardy and have few pests or diseases.

Sweet potatoes are a separate species than regular potatoes and need very different growing conditions. Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are native to tropical forests in Central America and love hot moist weather.

They can be tricky to grow and Fedco refers to them as “tropical drama queens” but rest assured I have you covered!

Varieties

Choosing your sweet potato variety is very important. Sweet potatoes grow in Zones 5 - 11 and grow well in Zone 6, however, some varieties will do much better than others. You might want to grow two varieties to see which does the best for you.

The standard sweet potato has orange flesh but there are some fun varieties with purple or yellow flesh.

Sweet potatoes are sold as slips. These young plants are grown from sweet potato tubers. They are essentially sprouts that emerge from the sweet potato when it is placed in a warm, humid environment. These slips are carefully harvested, shipped to you, and then transplanted into the soil to grow into mature sweet potato plants.

Potato slips are cold-sensitive so seed companies wait for warm weather before they ship them. For Zone 6 that’s usually early May. If you can not plant your slips right away put them upright in a vase of water. The leaves and stems should be sticking out the top (like flowers) and put in a warm sunny place.

My garden guide for Zone 6 has just been published and is available on Amazon. A perfect companion is the Garden Log Book which is available on Amazon as a paperback and in our webstore as a PDF.

Beauregard

The classic sweet potato with orange flesh with deep orange skin. I have had good luck with this variety. High yield. 90 days.

Covington

Dark orange flesh. Newer variety and Ive just grown it once but I was very impressed. Less cracking of skins and great flavor. 100 days.

Planting

Sweet potatoes need well-draining, loose soil with a slightly acidic pH of about 6.0-6.5. If you have heavy clay soils consider using raised beds. I often plant sweet potatoes following an early greens/lettuce crop.

I have planted them outside in raised beds and also in my greenhouse. During the summer I roll up the plastic sides and plant heat lovers such as eggplant.

Soil Preparation: Before planting, amend the soil with organic matter such as compost and well-rotted manure to improve fertility and structure. This will also help retain moisture and provide essential nutrients for healthy sweet potato growth.

Planting Sweet Potatoes
Plant sweet potato slips after the last frost date. They like warm nights (55°F or 13°C) so I often wait till late May or even early June. They prefer to have daytime temperatures between 85° and 95°F. The soil temperature should be at least 60°F (16°C).

Space the slips 12-18 inches apart in rows, and space rows 3-4 feet apart to allow room for the vines to spread. Gently plant the slips 3-4 inches deep, and ensure that the root system is well covered with soil. Water the newly planted slips thoroughly.

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Caring for Sweet Potatoes
1. Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during the first few weeks after planting.
2. Weeding: Regularly remove weeds that compete with sweet potatoes for nutrients and water. Be careful not to disturb the roots.
3. Fertilization: They are heavy feeders so a good layer of compost. In addition, digging in or side dressing with Kelp Meal or Azomite will meet their needs for micronutrients.

Harvesting
1. Timing: Sweet potatoes are typically ready for harvest 3-4 months after planting, once the foliage begins to yellow and die back.
2. Harvesting: Gently dig up the tubers, taking care not to bruise or damage them. Allow them to dry in the sun for a few hours, then cure them in a warm, humid place such as a greenhouse that is above 80-85°F and has 80-90% humidity for 10-14 days.

3. Curing

Curing helps sweet potatoes develop their sweet flavor and allows minor injuries to heal, prolonging their storage life. After curing store at 50 F or 10 C degrees.

Ways To Use Sweet Potatoes

Baked Sweet Potatoes:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Wash and scrub the sweet potatoes.

3. Pierce them with a fork and bake for 45-60 minutes until tender.

4. Serve with your favorite toppings like butter, cinnamon, or maple syrup.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes:

1. Boil peeled and chopped sweet potatoes until fork-tender.

2. Mash them with a potato masher or blend for a smoother texture.

3. Add butter, salt, and a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness.

Sweet Potato Fries:

1. Cut sweet potatoes into fries.

2. Toss with olive oil, salt, and your favorite spices.

3. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 25-30 minutes until crispy.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes:

1. Cube sweet potatoes and toss with olive oil, salt, and herbs.

2. Roast at 425°F (220°C) until golden and caramelized.

Sweet Potato Chips:

1. Slice sweet potatoes thinly using a mandoline or a sharp knife.

2. Toss with olive oil and bake at 400°F (200°C) until crispy.

Sweet Potato Pancakes:

1. Grate sweet potatoes and mix with flour, eggs, milk, and a pinch of baking powder.

2. Cook like regular pancakes and serve with syrup or yogurt.

Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes

• 1 cup sugar

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1/2 cup melted butter

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed sweet potatoes and sugar.
3. Add in the milk, melted butter, beaten eggs, and vanilla extract, and mix until smooth.
4. Stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well incorporated.
5. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the unbaked pie crust, smoothing the top with a spatula.
6. Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until the center is set and the crust is golden brown.
7. Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool before serving.
Enjoy your delicious sweet potato pie!

Author, Ame Vanorio is a Master Gardener and just loves sweet potatoes. Check out her Amazon Author Page.