Many people consider sweet potatoes as their go-to carbohydrate – the root crop, after all, is known to be one of the world’s most potent superfoods.

A member of the bindweed or morning glory family, sweet potatoes (Ipomea batatas) are native to Central America, where it is considered to be a staple food. An incredibly nutritious root crop, sweet potatoes can be eaten whole or peeled and can be prepared in various ways. Even more impressive is that its leaves are edible as well.

What’s inside the sweet potato?

Sweet potatoes are rich in the plant pigments called anthocyanins, which are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They are also rich sources of vitamins A, B and C, as well as essential minerals like manganese, iron, calcium and selenium. Sweet potatoes are also known for their high fiber content.

Because of their nutrient-dense nature, sweet potatoes have been linked to the following health benefits.

• Sweet potatoes promote optimal gut health.
• Sweet potatoes may prevent the development of certain types of cancer.
• Sweet potatoes improve cognitive and immune functions.

Growing sweet potatoes – in buckets

Because of their impressive nutrient profile and their sweet, tasty flavor, it’s no wonder people are starting to grow and harvest their own sweet potatoes. Lest you think it involves back-breaking work, however, it doesn’t. In fact, you can grow your own crop of sweet potatoes in the comfort of your own home — in buckets!

Here’s how you can grow your own sweet potatoes:

Choose which propagation method to use

Sweet potatoes can be propagated in two ways. The first is by planting the tubers directly into the soil. Once planted, the tubers will start producing shoots or “slips,” which can then be pulled or snipped off once they reach 15 centimeters in length. These slips can then be planted into the soil.

The other method involves snipping off foot-long runners from a mature plant and planting them directly into the soil.

Choose the right sweet potato

Organic sweet potatoes can be found in almost every farmer’s market, which means getting a dozen or so of the tubers is fairly easy — remember to pick up sweet potatoes that are free from cracks, bruising and soft spots.

You also have to make sure that your sweet potatoes haven’t been treated with chemicals and synthetic hormones such as BudNip, which keeps the tubers from producing shoots while in the stores.

A quick note, however: Sweet potatoes are known for their expansive vines. If you do not want any unruly and intrusive vines on your property, choose a cultivar or variety like the Portio Rico or the Vardaman, both of which are known to produce short and compact vines.

Choose the right container

As with all containers meant to be planted in, make sure that there are enough drainage holes at the bottom. This is because sweet potatoes do not like to get waterlogged — any excess water can cause them to quickly rot into mush.

If you are repurposing containers such as plastic buckets and totes, use a drill with a small-diameter bit to put 20 or so holes in the bottom, which will provide adequate drainage and air exchange for the plants.

You have to make sure, however, that your holes aren’t too large, or else the soil or growing medium will fall out the bottom.

As an additional measure, you can place compaction-resistant material such as rotted organic wood chips at the very bottom of the container to prevent the drainage holes from clogging.

Choose the right location

Plant containers, once filled with soil and plants, are heavy. This means that you have to plan and ensure that your chosen location — if it’s not going to be placed directly on top of soil — can take a heavy load, not to mention excess water.

It is also important to note that sweet potatoes need sun, so it’s best to situate the containers in a location where the plants will receive ample sunlight. You also have to make sure that the temperature in the area is consistently above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Make sure you have the correct soil for your sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes need moist yet well-draining soil. You can achieve this by mixing regular potting soil with some compost and sand.

Place about four inches of the soil mixture in your chosen and prepared container, then place the sweet potato slips on top and then add about three more inches of soil to secure them.

Make sure, however, that you don’t overfill the containers, as this will cause the soil to spill out once the sweet potatoes expand.

Make sure you give your sweet potatoes enough space

When planting sweet potatoes, make sure to keep the plants spaced by about a foot. This will ensure that the plants have room to grow.

Make sure you give your sweet potatoes enough time to grow

Sweet potatoes, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, need around four months of warm temperatures for them to grow well and produce a substantial amount of tubers. This means that one has to plant them early enough for the plants to mature properly, but not too early that they get killed by a late spring frost.

As noted by the Almanac, sweet potato slips should be planted in warm soil 3 to 4 weeks after the last spring frost, once nighttime temperatures have reached at least 55°F (13°C).

When and how should I harvest my sweet potatoes?

In temperate climates, sweet potatoes can usually be harvested after the first frost or around the time when the vines start to turn yellow.

When harvesting sweet potatoes, use a spade fork to first loosen the soil around the plant to avoid injuring the precious tubers. Once you have cleared enough vines and some soil, pull up the plant’s primary crown and then use your hands to dig up the tubers.

Remember to handle the sweet potatoes carefully, as they are prone to bruising when handled roughly.

As tempting as it may be, DO NOT wash the tubers. Doing so could cause them to rot. Instead, shake or brush off any excess dirt that may be clinging to the tubers.

How do I store my sweet potatoes?

Upon harvesting your sweet potatoes, you must immediately move them to a warm place, preferably a location with an ambient temperature of 80°F/27°C and with high humidity for a span of 10 to 14 days.

Doing this will allow the sweet potatoes to “cure,” a process that, according to the Almanac, allows a second skin to form over the scratches and bruises that the potatoes may have incurred during the harvest. In addition, curing also allows the sweet potatoes to develop their distinct sweet taste.

Once the sweet potatoes have sufficiently cured, inspect the harvest and throw out any tubers with excessive bruising.

Once your sweet potatoes have been picked through, wrap the remaining tubers in newspaper and place them in storage boxes or baskets, preferably ones made out of wood.

Store the tubers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated container away from strong heat sources.

Sweet potatoes are some of the most nutrient-packed superfoods on the planet. It’s a good thing then that one doesn’t need to be an experienced gardener to grow them at home.

Just follow the tips and tricks outlined in this article so that you can quickly reap the health and economic benefits of sweet potatoes and other fresh, homegrown organic superfoods.

Sources:

Healthline.com

PubMed.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

FiveGallonIdeas.com

Almanac.com

NCSweetPotatoes.com