Sweet potato as most of us may know is root nutritious vegetables with great source of vitamin and minerals and we have planting and Harvesting the plants for some years and that's why i decided to share this knowledge with you all.
Planting sweet potatoes requires careful planning, preparation and attention to detail. Here are step-by-step guide on how to plant sweet potatoes:
- maturity period- Sweet potatoes mature between 3 to 4 months
- Sweet potatoes need full sun to produce well.
- Add organic matter: put a well-rotted manure to improve soil fertility and drainage.
- Sweet potatoes slips: cut the slips and don't allow it to spend much time before you plant it if not it will dry.
- Grow your own slips: If you have a sweet potato from the previous season, you can grow your own slips. Place the sweet potato in a cool place not direct to sun light because it dries easily.
- Wait for the right weather: Plant sweet potatoes when the soil is wet or is cool, in other to prevent it from drying.
- Space correctly: Plant slips 12-18 inches apart, with rows spaced 1-3 feet spacing.
- Plant at the right depth: it should not be covered with the soil completely, just 1-2 inches inside the soil
- Water thoroughly: Water the soil well after planting.
Caring for Your Sweet Potato Crop
Keep the soil moist: Water regularly, but avoid overwatering.
Watch for pests and diseases: Keep an eye out for signs of pests or diseases, and take action promptly.
Harvesting Sweet Potatoes
- Wait for maturity: Sweet potatoes are ready to harvest when the tops of the plants start to yellow and die back.
- Carefully dig around the plants: Use a small hoe to gently loosen the soil around the sweet potatoes.
- Lift the tubers: Carefully lift the sweet potatoes out of the soil and it should not be allowed for a long time under the sun.