Sweet potato

**Jay-ell** · 25-08-2018, 04:34 PM

I planted mine out into a bed at the end of June. As they take 120 days to maturity this means that I wont be digging them up till the end of October at the earliest, but most likely in December as soon as the frost kills off the leaves.

Last time I grew them I had them in a potato bag in the green house and the roots weren't much though I can't remember how long I had them in for.

Yeah I know - sweet potatoes outdoors in the North East of England - must be mad.

Moo, Baaahh, Woof, wibble.

**Penellype** · 25-08-2018, 07:46 PM

I bought 2 plants (Beauregard) from the garden centre towards the end of May and planted them in a hotbed at my friend's, under a plastic cloche. They have produced large amounts of foliage and had some purple flowers a month or so ago. I'm now waiting for the foliage to die down before I harvest them.

Previous attempts to grow them in the somewhat shady greenhouse have not been a success, but I have never had flowers before so I am hopeful.

**kitty12345** · 25-08-2018, 07:53 PM

Ah looks like my little plant will be very late. If it doesn't look promising I might eat the leaves in a stir fry...

**annie8** · 25-08-2018, 07:59 PM

Well Jay-Ell if you are mad then I'm worse trying to grow sweet potato in Edinburgh and outside. Mind you if it is ever going to be a hot enough summer for them this has been it. 4 of the 5 slips i bought died but i have one left which is looking healthy and spreading around the raised bed. I put mine in early May but based on advice am planning to leave it there until late autumn. No sign of any flowers yet - hadn't realised they would flower. Well you never know might get something. Not planning to try again next year unless i get an amazing harvest!

**Jay-ell** · 25-08-2018, 08:17 PM

Flowers are nice - they look like purple bindweed (to which they are related)
though I seriously doubt that we'd get any viable seed produced from them over here.

**Small pumpkin** · 25-08-2018, 08:23 PM

I'm trying sweet potato for the first time this year. Planted May I think. Won't be harvesting until last September at the earliest
They are growing very happily in a very large tub in the polytunnle.
Mine has also flowered Penellype

they're very pretty aren't they.

**veggiechicken** · 25-08-2018, 08:30 PM

I have a sweet potato in a glass of water. It has about 3 healthy slips and, clearly, its too late to plant them out now.
How can I overwinter them to give me a head start next year?...............or are they doomed.

**treepixie** · 25-08-2018, 08:46 PM

You can leave them in water over winter , changing it when it looks slimy or pot them up and keep them indoors until spring, I am going to be taking some cutting from mine any day now to over winter

**Small pumpkin** · 26-08-2018, 05:59 AM

Originally posted by treepixie View Post

You can leave them in water over winter , changing it when it looks slimy or pot them up and keep them indoors until spring, I am going to be taking some cutting from mine any day now to over winter

I didn't know you could do that. Can you tell me how please? I'd like to try.

**treepixie** · 26-08-2018, 05:29 PM

This tells you how to go about it, I have never done it before and am trying it for the first time myself

https://getbusygardening.com/overwin...t-potato-vine/

Be interesting to see if it works

**treepixie** · 09-09-2018, 12:30 PM

The slips have rooted really well, now potted up and will overwinter them indoors and see what happens

**Leezy2** · 09-09-2018, 10:21 PM

Can�t comment on the growing side of things as I�m in France, and my sweet potatoes grow whilst you look at them!
However, overwinter one or more tubers just in a shallow tray of soil, plant them half covered early enough they can form shoots before the cold then get them indoors somewhere cool but not too cold. They will happily sit there �hibernating� until spring when they then grow rapidly if it�s warm enough. Cut off the slips when they�re about 4-6� long and pot them up until your ready to plant them in their final positions. I know everyone goes on about putting them in water etc, but they root very quickly!
This photo is last year�s tubers almost ready for over wintering, and yes, i ended up with far too many slips!! This year�s harvest looks like it will be a good one, but like I say, I�m fortunate enough to get the weather.

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**treepixie** · 10-09-2018, 07:44 PM

I tried that with the tubers and found they just rotted

**Leezy2** · 10-09-2018, 08:00 PM

If the tuber has rooted well, don�t over water it. Like I said, it sort of hybernates just keep it cool and not wet and it�s fine. From those on the photo I planted several slips this year all of which are doing really well.

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