Sweet Potato

[sc4001992]

Anyone growing sweet potatos ?

Can you grow sweet potatos in a pot or a bed container?  I don't have much space to let the vine grow in ground so just wondering if anyone is growing these sweet potatos in a enclosed planter?

I have the Okinawa/Molokai sweet potato (purple color inside) and it grows well but not getting any potato since I don't have space to let the roots run underground. I had one potato that grew under one of my planters (over cement) and it looked like a pancake potato with roots.

If you have any purple sweet potatoes, please post some photos of your tuber.

The world's record potato, weighs 17 lbs.

[sc4001992]

Here's my flat purple sweet potato.

[JCorte]

Hi Kaz,

I harvested a few of the Okinawans and Molokai purple last week.





I did not take photo of the Molokai, but they were same large size.  I haven’t tasted the Molokai yet but they didn’t have any sweetness raw.  The Purple Okinawans are my favorite and have grown them for years.  The smaller one on the top grew in a 2 gallon pot.  The smaller one is the normal size I usually find at the Japanese market.  I didn’t intend to leave in the pot, I was just rooting some cuttings and forgot about them.  I was surprised to find the tuber because the pot has been neglected.  They’re curing now, so will taste the Molokai cooked next week.

Janet

[sc4001992]

Janet, wow your sweet potatoes are large !

When the potatoes have the tubers, do they grow out of the ground a little so that you can tell where they are or do you need to dig up the plant and find the tubers underground ?

[JCorte]

The Okinawans start to protrude out of the soil or are near the surface so I can feel them by digging around with my fingers.  The ones I harvested were growing under 6 large tomato plants.  I gave the Molokais less competition since it was my first year growing them.  I needed a shovel to find where they were.  I ended up cutting through a few that were similar to the size of your photos, but found 2 large ones.

I have found if I miss an Okinawan tuber, they will continue to grow bigger the following year.  I have harvested huge ones in the past that are ugly with thick skin, but still beautiful deep purple inside and delicious.

I also love the Korean purple variety, purple skin but light yellow flesh.  My mom harvests the stems of the vines and dries them to use as a stir fry vegetable in winter. 

Janet

[Galatians522]

I can verify that sweet potatoes will be highly productive when grown in 25 gallon pots. You may even be able to grow the vines on a trellis of sorts if you tie them in place. They are crawlers more than climbers.

[sc4001992]

If you plant them in a 25 gallon pot, does the roots grow and have the tubers and you can let the vine (with leaves) grow on a trellis like a passion fruit ?

[Galatians522]

If you plant them in a 25 gallon pot, does the roots grow and have the tubers and you can let the vine (with leaves) grow on a trellis like a passion fruit ?

Yes, with one catch. Sweet potatoes do not have tendrils or twine like climbing vines. So, you would need to tie them onto or weave them into the trellis. The tubers are normal size, thoug. Actually, when the vine crawls along the ground naturally it sets roots and a lot of small potatoes that are not really worth the trouble to clean. If the vine does not touch the ground, it will send all those sugars back to the main root cluster and grow those potatoes bigger instead.

[sc4001992]

Ok, thanks for this info. Now it makes sense that my vine was growing outside of the 2 gallon pot and somehow the vine got under another larger pot that was on cement (patio) and it had the small smashed potato in the photo above. Maybe I should transplant my plant and I might find a larger potato in the pot. My vine grew about 20 ft from the pot on my other citrus trees and over the cement patio.

[Galatians522]

Ok, thanks for this info. Now it makes sense that my vine was growing outside of the 2 gallon pot and somehow the vine got under another larger pot that was on cement (patio) and it had the small smashed potato in the photo above. Maybe I should transplant my plant and I might find a larger potato in the pot. My vine grew about 20 ft from the pot on my other citrus trees and over the cement patio.

I have seen those "sweet potato pancakes" before, too! If you clip the growing tip the vine will branch more and put out side shoots. If you don't, it can grow a long way! I have one that is getting close to 30' long!

[spaugh]

Kaz, i have 3 types growi g in raised beds.  One is white outside purple inside, one is purple in and out and one is orange in and out.  I have the names written somewhere,  it grows like a weed, super easy to grow tons of food. 

[sc4001992]

Brad, how deep is your raised bed ?
I was thinking of doing the same.

[spaugh]

1ft deep, 4ft x 8ft

You probably want at least 2ft x 2ft minimum for sweet potatos.  3x3 or 4x4 would better. 

You could always plant them under other trees to maximize space.  Ive planted regular potatos and  watermelons under fruit trees.  No reason you couldnt do it with sweet potato. 

[FV Fruit Freak]

Growing great under my banana trees, this vine is from an orange one that started to sprout on our counter so we threw it in the dirt, I had no idea it would grow so well. We harvested some of them a couple weeks ago and they were great. They had more of a creamy consistency than the store bought ones. Does anyone know if you’re suppose to let them sit out or something for a while to get rid of some of the starch?

[sc4001992]

Nate, your banana tree fruits look great. I have not heard that you should let the fruit sit out for a while. If you like the orange flesh sweet potato then you need to try the purple ones, they are just as good but looks even better.

I just cut most of my molokai purple vine since I cleaned up some pots and plants in my cement patio so I still have many cuttings sitting in water. These vines root fast just by keeping them in water. If you want a few cuttings then send me a PM, I would trade for some of your orange ones.

[FV Fruit Freak]

Thanks Kaz! A trade sounds great, I’ll shout you a pm. Those naners are dwarf cavendish, grow very well here.

[JCorte]

Kaz,

I did a taste test of the Molokai and Okinawan purple, both harvested and cured for 2 weeks.  Okinawan was a lot sweeter.  The Molokai were a darker purple, but the Okinawan are a beautiful purple as well.  Maybe the Molokais need longer storage to sweeten up. Starches will convert to sugar and sweeten up after storage.  Also, maybe the Molokai needs longer growing time to achieve more sugar.  The leaves of the Molokai are a beautiful purple on the new leaves so I may keep growing it, but my whole family prefers the Okinawans for taste.  I have not harvested most of my crop yet, so will let you know if comparisons change after longer growing time.

Janet

[JCorte]

I’ve been growing sweet potatoes in raised bed under other fruit trees and plants for years.



Janet

[JCorte]

[sc4001992]

Janet, thanks for the info on storage of the sweet potato, I didn't know that the starch will turn to sugar if you wait.

Your yard (garden) looks neat, is that seedless kishu mandarin trees you have with all those fruits? My first favorite fruits were citrus and I have many varieties of citrus growing. What's your best tasting citrus fruits you have?

The Okinawa purple cuttings you sent me are doing well so I better put those in the raised bed first and get them to grow faster. Your potatoes are huge, need to get a veg garden going once I cut down my other fruit trees which is taking up most of my yard (mulberry, citrus, persimon, loquats). I'll post some photos of my backyard (temp) just for you to see how crowded it is.

[JCorte]

My yard is full of fruit trees and edible plants, too!  Ran out of room, so we finally bought a farm in Fallbrook last year. 

I love citrus!  I'm impressed you could identify the kishu from that picture.  I have 36 different varieties plus 3 seedlings planted at home and the farm, many I have not tasted yet.  My favorite from home is a Nules clementine that I got as a grafted seedling only a few inches tall about 15 years ago.  To me, it tastes as good if not better than the Shiranui.  I don't know if the label was accurate or not, I have read that Nules are commonly sold, but I have never seen or tasted one like the fruit from my tree. 

I'm most excited for my three seedling plants.  I started seeds from Temecula sweet mandarins about 10 years ago when they used to be sold locally, it's a cross between satsuma and ponkan.  Anyways I loved them and have had these three plants stunted in containers in my garden for the last decade.  I planted them at the farm and am looking forward to when they fruit.  I know that they may not be like the original, but fingers crossed I will get something as tasty. 

I love all the pictures of your plants and fruit you've shared from your garden on the forum.  I think they're beautiful.  Thankful for all your variety trials and you sharing and spreading the genetics.

Janet

[FV Fruit Freak]

Hey Janet! Your garden looks very beautiful! You should have that picture you posted painted and hung in your home...Do you need to do anything special when converting the starch into sugar for two weeks or just leave on counter?

[sc4001992]

Janet, I tasted the Temecula Sweet mandarin, it was excellent. I first thought it was a Shasta but then I saw the label. I couldn't find any scions of it, nice large mandarin fruits, have not seen any for sale again at the grocery store.

I heard that Shiranui (sumo) seeds will come true so maybe the Temecula Sweet will also. I have one seedling tree that is about 4 ft tall.

One interesting madarin I have from the UCR CCPP (VI-518) is a good tasting one and its unusual in that the seeds do not stay near the center of the fruit, instead it is in the middle of each fruit sack envelop.

I wouldn't mind buying a farm to grow fruit trees but it may not happen unless I hit the lotto.

[JCorte]

Nate,  store in the dark in a warm spot.  Check for condensation building up so moisture doesn’t cause mold.  I use a black fabric pot inside plastic container.   I planted your Gros Michel bananas at the farm, they’re doing great so far.  Hope they make it through winter okay.

Kaz,  hope one day citrus quarantine ends so we can share special varieties.  I will be ordering more bud wood in the spring, maybe I’ll catch up one day.😄

Janet

[FV Fruit Freak]

Thanks Janet. Happy to hear the Gros Michel is doing good, they do not like the cold, at all, so do what you can to keep her warm

[sc4001992]

Janet, so far only my satsuma mandarin and cara cara oranges are getting ripe so I can start eating them.

I picked these today.

[JCorte]

Beautiful Kaz,

My satsuma and cara cara are way behind yours.  My sister grows Fuyu, so I’m growing Saijo, my favorite for making  hoshigaki.





Tried another couple sweet potatoes.  The Okinawans are on the right in both images.  The Molokai are earthy with a slight bitterness, no sweetness with a little fiber that’s barely noticeable.  Taste is not bad, maybe okay variety if you’re adding butter, sugar, or savory seasoning.  Okinawans were sweet, creamy, no fiber.  Both are high in antioxidants.






Janet

[sc4001992]

I just grafted Saijo this year since I hear so much good things about the taste. This will be my first astringent variety, I might try the hoshigaki in a few years when my tree looks like yours.

Nice photos of the purple potatoes, didn't know the Molokai was not sweet. I better get more of the Okinawa growing.

[JCorte]

Kaz,

If you want to try the Saijo, I can send you some.  Just let me know.

I’m going to grow the Molokais one more year to see if they sweeten up with more nutrients in the soil.  I eat the leaves cooked, and I like the deep purple color on the young leaves of the Molokai.  Plus they are effortless to grow and make a nice ground cover.

Janet

[sc4001992]

Janet, yes !

I would like to try one, please send me one. Let me know how much to ship it. Thanks.

[pineislander]

Molokai is a dry type sweet potato, somewhat sweet. If you are used to moist orange USA types don't expect that.
I made a purple sweet potato soup with coconut milk that was great. Many tropical sweet potato types are starchy, more like a carb root than a dessert type. Maybe because there are lots of sweet fruits around.

[JCorte]

Pineislander,

Thanks for the info on the Molokai, I was considering drying it to make a flour substitute since it wasn’t very sweet and the dry texture may be easy to dehydrate.  Will try it in more savory recipes.

Janet

[FV Fruit Freak]

Just harvested our sweet potatoes for Christmas Happy Holidays!

[sc4001992]

Nate, very nice crop of potatos !

[FV Fruit Freak]

Thanks Kaz! These are the potatoes I gave you cuttings of, I hope they are growing well for you 

[amtun13892]

Hi Kaz,

I harvested a few of the Okinawans and Molokai purple last week.





I did not take photo of the Molokai, but they were same large size.  I haven’t tasted the Molokai yet but they didn’t have any sweetness raw.  The Purple Okinawans are my favorite and have grown them for years.  The smaller one on the top grew in a 2 gallon pot.  The smaller one is the normal size I usually find at the Japanese market.  I didn’t intend to leave in the pot, I was just rooting some cuttings and forgot about them.  I was surprised to find the tuber because the pot has been neglected.  They’re curing now, so will taste the Molokai cooked next week.

Janet

do you ever try sweet potato from korea and japan? very sweet and juicy than the one I bought from H mart or Mitsuwa supermarket

[Lovetoplant]

I’ve been growing sweet potatoes in raised bed under other fruit trees and plants for years.



Janet

Janet, you mentioned that you harvested Okinawa tubers near the surface of the soil.  Tubers I found were all deeper than a foot deep.  Any idea of how to have it grow the tubers near surface? Thanks

[Lumi-Ukko]

Anybody know how much shade sweet potato plants can tolerate in a a high UV tropical location (I'm in the Yucatan)?

[growinginphoenix]

Anybody know how much shade sweet potato plants can tolerate in a a high UV tropical location (I'm in the Yucatan)?

I have high UV, although not tropical. All day sun is ideal in my experience.

[Lumi-Ukko]

Anybody know how much shade sweet potato plants can tolerate in a a high UV tropical location (I'm in the Yucatan)?

I have high UV, although not tropical. All day sun is ideal in my experience.

I don't think I can guarantee a location for my sweet potatoes that get a full day of sun here.  But given we have such strong sunlight I was hoping that a half day of sun or filtered on/off all day would suffice and replicate a full day of sun of regions further North.

I might need to rethink the size of container I can put them in if I'm to give them more sun thatn I was planning.

[growinginphoenix]

Anybody know how much shade sweet potato plants can tolerate in a a high UV tropical location (I'm in the Yucatan)?

I have high UV, although not tropical. All day sun is ideal in my experience.

I don't think I can guarantee a location for my sweet potatoes that get a full day of sun here.  But given we have such strong sunlight I was hoping that a half day of sun or filtered on/off all day would suffice and replicate a full day of sun of regions further North.

I might need to rethink the size of container I can put them in if I'm to give them more sun thatn I was planning.

I have only tried full sun and full shade. In full shade they didn't grow. I imagine they will do OK with partial shade, but not sure.

[Lumi-Ukko]

Anybody know how much shade sweet potato plants can tolerate in a a high UV tropical location (I'm in the Yucatan)?

I have high UV, although not tropical. All day sun is ideal in my experience.

I don't think I can guarantee a location for my sweet potatoes that get a full day of sun here.  But given we have such strong sunlight I was hoping that a half day of sun or filtered on/off all day would suffice and replicate a full day of sun of regions further North.

I might need to rethink the size of container I can put them in if I'm to give them more sun thatn I was planning.

I have only tried full sun and full shade. In full shade they didn't grow. I imagine they will do OK with partial shade, but not sure.

I'm still propagating slips but I'll feedback how I get on. I'll find a place for a container in full sun, and the rest will go in part shade and see how I get on. All other things being equal.  My biggest problem are the pests down here. Iguanas, birds, opossoms, leaf-cutting ants, snails, mealybugs, aphids, nematodes, scale.  We have it all, often at the same time.