The sweet potato, is also known as sweet potato, sweet potato or sweet potato, sugary sweet potato, sweet potato from Malaga, Potato from Malaga. Although its scientific or Latin name is Ipomoea batata = Convolvulus batatas. It belongs to the Convolvulaceae family.
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Origin of the sweet potato
The sweet potato was distributed from South America to Polynesia, New Zealand, and north of the Mariana Islands between the 12th and 13th centuries, when Spanish settlers arrived in the New World. The cultivation of this tubercle was already widespread in the American territory.
Characteristics of the sweet potato
The plant of the sweet potato is perennial herbaceous, it is a creeping plant, its only main stem is usually short, from where 4 to 6 branches arise, and from these other new branches arise, and so on, it is a plant whose branches are they propagate through the earth, where the adventitious roots originate in knots in contact with the moist earth.
Types of soil and climate
As a plant with a tropical and subtropical to temperate climate, it is very sensitive to frost. It needs a period of four months free of frost and warm temperatures, below 15 ° C stops its growth. Tolerates a variety of soils but those of good fertility are ideal, loose in the first 30 cm. 450 to 640 millimeters of water will be necessary during its cycle.
Form of sweet potato propagation
The sweet potato spreads through the buds that arise from the tubers themselves, or sweet potato-seeds, These are sweet potatoes harvested and preserved for planting in storage or directly on the ground. The most used method, to grow the sweet potato, is direct, with its own tubers, with this method you save time and labor; This crop also propagates with its stems; the procedure consists in cutting pieces of 20 cm branches, which have the nodes where the roots will emerge, this method is much more economical than the planting of the seeds, because the seeds or tubers are not used, being used for the consumption.
Varieties of sweet potatoes
There are many varieties, among the most common and traditional varieties are Purple and white, with very good yields, with an excellent flavor and conservation.
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There are other types of sweet potatoes such as: Yascon sweet potato, English sweet potato, sweet potato and baroa.
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Care of the crop
It is recommended to hoe the crop with a hoe before 20 days of the transplant so that the guides do not cover the furrow. It is not a very nutritious crop, you can use a lower quality soil. The soil must be well watered before the transplant. The crop has two critical periods that are the first and the last 40 days of its cycle in which it is necessary to irrigate conveniently. Diseases and pests: in the central part of the country the sweet potato does not have plagues that require treatment, having to be careful with the weeds, especially in the first stages of seedling development, until the guides manage to cover the entresurco and compete favorably.
Harvest of the sweet potato
The harvest of the sweet potato lasts four months after the transplant; It starts when the roots (sweet potatoes) are well developed. It can be harvested in a staggered way but before the first frosts you have to harvest everything.
Nutritional properties of sweet potatoes
In terms of nutritional properties, potatoes are very nutritious, because they have tuberous roots, capable of storing many nutrients. In addition, they have antioxidant, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory and even help to combat weight gain, early aging and the emergence of chronic diseases. Potatoes are an important source of phosphorus, vitamins of group B and vitamin C and A.
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Uses of sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes can be eaten, prepared in different ways: in soups, fried, roasted, mashed, stewed and in salads; Desserts are also prepared.
Sweet potatoes:
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Mashed sweet potatoes:
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