| Botanical name | Ipomoea batatas |
|---|---|
| Plant Care |  Deciduous Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually  Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.  Frost Sensitive Frost Sensitive – Will Get Damaged and Possibly Killed During Periods of Frost.  Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering.  High Maintenance High Maintenance – Requires Regular Maintenance.  Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned.  Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa. |
| Categories | |
| Common name(s) | Sweet potatoes |
| Origin | |
| Planting instructions | Plant edible tubers close together in rows in early August to obtain cuttings from runners that will grow from these tubers.These runners will be long enough after about eight weeks.Take 300mm-long cuttings from the runners and plant them 400mm apart in rows spaced 800mm apart.Water when dry. |
| Soil conditions | Prepare the soil by digging in compost and general purpose fertilizer, such as Wonder 2:3:2 (22), at a rate of 60g/m2; do not add manure before planting.It grows best in light soils |
| Interesting info | The sweet potato is a close relative of the invasive morning glory creeper (Ipomoea purpurea, I. indica). |
| Propagation | The plant is propagated by cuttings planted during spring. |
| Common pests and diseases | Sweet potato weevils can be a problem if they are able to get into the shoots underground.Fill in cracks in the soil to prevent this from happening. |
| Harvest | Dig up tubers about five months after planting cuttings. |
| Yield | Twenty plants should yield enough sweet potatoes for a family of four. |
Ipomoea batatas (Sweet potatoes)
- Botanical name: Ipomoea batatas
- Common name(s): Sweet potatoes
- Categories: Fruits and Vegetables
Plant description:
This warm-season crop is frost susceptible. It needs a long, warm growing period, taking at least five months to grow. It grows like a vine on the ground and requires lots of space, making it a field crop rather than a home garden crop.
Family: Convolvulaceae
Botanical Pronunciation: ip-uh-MEE-uh buh-TAY-tuss
Ipomoea batatas requirements and features
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Moderate Maintenance
Requires moderate maintenance.
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