how to grow japanese sweet potato

It is noted that the first purple sweet potato was bred by the Japanese and grown specifically on Okinawa, hence its name. Use a well-draining pot large enough to accommodate it comfortably. Water the plants deeply about once weekly throughout the growing season. Ideally, the soil pH should be between 5.8 and 6.2, but you can add iron sulfate to lower the pH, thus making the soil more acidic; if soil pH is too low, add agricultural lime to sweeten the soil, making it more alkaline. (A 10-foot row will produce 8 to 10 pounds of potatoes.) Plant the sweet potato in a container of potting soil when each vine has as least four to six leaves. The flavor is sweet and pleasant, and the texture is creamy. To successfully grow sweet potatoes you will need a frost-free growing season of 100 days (or more). We love to DIY. In all possibility, Stokes Purple could be ‘Okinawan’, but without genetic testing it is truly impossible to know. When to Harvest Sweet Potatoes. When you plant the slips, water them generously. Fill a planter with well-draining potting mix, leaving about 2 inches from the edge. What's the Difference Between a Sweet Potato and a Yam, 60+ Ways to Use Up Thanksgiving Leftovers. Purple sweet potatoes are fun to grow and cook with. Japanese sweet potatoes, on the other hand, are reliable in their ability to brown and char: If you're going to make sweet potato oven fries, look no further. Japanese sweet potato flesh tends to be much drier than the orange-fleshed sweet potato common in the United States. Types of Ornamental Sweet Potatoes. There are several different varieties to try. As mentioned earlier, there are many different purple sweet potatoes that Japanese plant breeders have developed over the years. Remove from the oven and split the skins. Here’s how it’s done: About six weeks before it’s time to plant sweet potatoes outdoors, place the roots in a box of moist sand, sawdust, or chopped leaves in a warm spot (75 to 80 degrees). Plant sweet potatoes in hilled rows, berms, or raised beds. Some people will tell you to root in water without the soil, but plants tend not to form as strong of root systems this way. Harvest the potatoes after about three to five months after planting, depending on the growth rates of the Japanese sweet potato cultivar you choose. Roast for up to one hour. Japanese sweet potatoes can grow rather long, so if the potato doesn't fit in the container, you can cut off the bottom portion, allow the exposed flesh to callous overnight and plant it with the cut, calloused end face down in the pot. Use a pot that is at least 6 inches wide and 12 inches deep. © 2020 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. She received her Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. Browse a full list of topics found on the site, from accessories to mudrooms to wreaths. Take a soil sample from a planting site that receives full sun and test the sample, using a home soil testing kit to determine the soil pH level. Place your sweet potato in a cup of chlorine-free water with the sprout side down in the cup. Add your oil of choice or spices as needed. Place a flower pot or bucket over the leaves for the first several days to protect them as they adjust to the the heat and sunlight. A good rule of thumb is to watch for the first signs of yellowing leaves. Water the potato at planting and allow the top 1 to 2 inches of soil to dry between watering to avoid problems with rot. Captain James Cook found a variety in Polynesia and brought samples back to London; researchers have since dated the genetic makeup to about 1,000 A.D. You'll be happy to know sweet potatoes can be grown in containers. Space each plant 12 inches apart in rows, with each row spaced about 3 feet apart. A sweet potato will start to grow "slips", which are stems with leaves. Leave all of the stems exposed. The vigorous growth and drought tolerance of ornamental sweet potato vines makes them great choices for mixed containers and hanging baskets. Use a pot that is at least 6... 3. My top 5 sweet potato … Space them out on a baking sheet (preferably parchment-lined). You might still need to sift through the soil to find all the potatoes, but this method prevents damage to the sweet potatoes that commonly occurs when a hoe is used to dig up the potatoes. The other more recent purple sweet that has made it to the grocery is Stokes Purple sweet potato. Buy the sweet potato in the best time of year, November to January. Baked Japanese Sweet Potato. If the growing season has been good with adequate water and sunshine, harvesting sweet potatoes should begin about 100-110 days after planting depending on the variety. So in case you've ever been tempted, take care not to substitute a sweet potato for an Idaho willy nilly; in some cases it may work … Sweet potatoes come in lots of different shapes, colors, and sizes, and today, we're breaking down everything you need to know about the white sweet potato. To start your slips, you need several healthy, clean sweet potatoes. It is noted by professional sweet potato growers that it doesn’t prefer the conditions of the mainland. Sweet potatoes may be associated with the southern U.S., but they will grow in just about any garden. Set the pot in a warm location where it receives full sun. Japanese sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) might refer to the alternative common name of a group called boniato potatoes or a specific cultivar of boniato (I. batatas "Japanese"). Fill a planter with well-draining potting mix, leaving about 2 inches from the edge. However, it is noted that ‘Okinawan’ is drier, lighter in purple color and less meaty when cooked compared to Stokes. Growing ‘Okinawan’ sweet potatoes in U.S. climates can be done, but the variety was specifically bred for the weather that is consistent of the islands such as Okinawa and Hawaii. You might also wish to add a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic matter, such as finished compost, manure, sphagnum peat, leaf mold and coarse sand into the soil. Make sure 1/4- 1/2 of the potato sticking outside the water (picture shown is after the potato has been growing about 4 weeks) and put on a windowsill or a shelf for 4-8 weeks Change the water a couple of times a week with purified water A former cake decorator and competitive horticulturist, Amelia Allonsy is most at home in the kitchen or with her hands in the dirt. Strip all the leaves from the vine except for the last one or two leaf sets closest to the end of the vine. Learn when and how to harvest and cure sweet potatoes to enjoy during the winter months. Whether it is an edible or ornamental sweet potato, flowers are not usually part of the equation. Dig narrow holes for the sweet potato slips; the holes should be long enough to plant the slips, while leaving the remaining leaves exposed above ground. The curing process improves the sweet potato flavor, and potatoes grow a protective second skin that allows them to be stored for several months, rather than only one or two months. These potatoes can prove difficult to find, so if you have an organic Japanese potato, you can grow the vines, then plant pieces of the vines, called slips, to grow your own Japanese sweet potato crop in your garden. Do You Need to Put Sweet Potatoes Into Soil? Insert the slip in the hole, fill the hole with soil and pack gently to ensure good contact between the soil and the vine slip. Mike Sizemore, who lives in Stokes County, North Carolina, is noted for discovering this variety. To create sprouts, carefully wash your potatoes and cut them either in half or in large sections. It’s very rich in vitamins and has been called a superfood. Now place the potato in a sunny window and/or under a grow light and let it … Once your sweet potatoes have sprouted, you have to separate them … Plant. Let's get together. With an oddly-colored skin that is a woody brown color, this type of … Add more mulch 1 inch at a time each week for about one month as the vines grow, making the total mulch depth 3 to 4 inches. You can grow sweet potatoes once the danger of frost has passed and your soil temperature reaches above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The purple potato made its way to Hawaii and then to the U.S. mainland. Place the whole Japanese sweet potato in the soil, leaving a bit of the pointed tip protruding from the soil. In 2003, he was awarded these purple sweet potatoes as a prize at the state fair. Make soil adjustments at the same time you plant the potted potato to allow a few weeks for the ingredients to take effect. Pull the toothpicks out of the potato and cover it completely with soil. Most sweet potato varieties need this length of time from the transplant of a sprout (or “slip”) until edible tubers can be harvested. Growing Okinawan Purple Sweet Potatoes. Check that the slips are leafy and over 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall. Lift the vines up off the ground as you apply the mulch; if you accidentally cover the vines with mulch, new plants might take root. Create your mounded rows of soil with planting holes approximately five to eight inches deep, and three to four inches wide. Learn the basics about growing sweet potatoes and their origin. Then, transfer to an area with some filtered sunlight until the sprouts are ready to plant. The phytonutrients associated with different colors in sweet potato do have different health properties. The easiest way to grow lots of sweet potato slips is by submerging the sweet potato in a cup full of water. When the roots have grown in, it's time to plant your slips in soil. Take a soil sample from a planting site that receives full sun and test the sample, using a home soil testing kit to... 2. Here are some key instructions on curing and storing sweet potatoes. Besides that, however, sweet potato strains have a very similar nutritional profile.Rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, sweet potato has been named the ‘healthiest of all vegetables’ by The Center for Science in the Public Interest []. Apply a slow-release, general fertilizer, such as 5-10-10, two weeks after planting the slips outdoors, using roughly 2 cups of fertilizer for a 10-foot row of sweet potatoes. In the tropics, the crop can be maintained in the ground and harvested as needed for market or home … Sweet potatoes will grow in poor soil, but deformed roots may develop in heavy clay or long and stringy in sandy dirt. Because they are sown by vine cuttings rather than seeds, sweet potatoes are relatively easy to plant. Work in plenty of compost, avoiding nitrogen-rich fertilizers that produce lush vines and stunted tubes. The part we eat is the tuberous root of a vining plant that is closely related to morning glories (Ipomoea tricolor) and youll easily see the similarity in leaves to the sweet potato vines we now grow as ornamentals. It is possible to produce your own slipls, but takes time and planning. How to Grow Satsuma Potatoes. Skin and slice up your Japanese sweet potatoes. Slips are small sprouts that are grown from pre-existing … In an article for the LA Times, it is believed that Stokes Purple is possibly a variety that was introduced by Japanese sweet potato breeders who had a number of purple varieties already in the marketplace. How to Grow Japanese Sweet Potatoes and Potato Vines 1. Hand-weeding is required when you first plant the slips; add an inch of mulch after about two weeks. Yams and sweet potatoes have been confused for centuries, find out the difference and which one is best to plant in your garden. It is noted that the first purple sweet potato was bred by the Japanese and grown specifically on Okinawa, hence its name. Prick sweet potatoes all over with a fork; arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Use a rototiller to incorporate the amendments with the top 12 inches of soil. Plant sweet potatoes in ridges 8-12 inches high and 3 feet apart. Plants need about 1 inch of water weekly, but you might not have to apply water if you receive sufficient rainfall. While we love the classic orange sweet potato (nobody can resist Grandma's sweet potato casserole, after all), there are many more varieties of sweet potatoes to explore. Through its travels it developed many different names, but its real and true name is ‘Okinawan’. How to plant. The slips will grow fast and develop roots. Roast until very tender, about 1 hour, depending on size. Hawaiian sweet potato, which is a variety called ‘Okinawan’, but is commonly called purple yam, Japanese purple potato or Japanese Sweet Potato. Put your sweet potatoes into some loose potting soil in a warm, humid area until sprouts start to form. Sweet potatoes are surprisingly easy to grow in different regions of North America and, if properly cured, they have quite a memorable flavor. Shoots will sprout, and when they reach 6 to 9 inches long, cut them off the root. Ornamental sweet potato vines are in the same family as edible sweet potatoes and are in fact the same species. There are hundreds of different orange sweet potatoes to grow – here are the top five recommended by the experts. This mouthwatering baked sweet potato is loaded with fiber and vitamin C. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. It maintains its purple color very well through the cooking process. Look at the edge of a sweet potato and get the one syrup comes out. Once those slips start to develop, they'll each have their own root system. Stokes Purple was discovered in 2003 and more friendly to U.S. growing conditions. How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in a Container With a Trellis, How to Keep Sweet Potato Slips Alive Until You're Ready to Plant Them, North Carolina State University Extension: Identifying Boniato-type Sweetpotato Cultivars Adapted to NC Growing Conditions. The purple potato made its way to Hawaii and then to the U.S. mainland. The variety was unidentified and Mike began propagating it. Place each section in a jar or glass of water with half of the potato below the water and half above. In addition to waiting until the vines reach the appropriate size before cutting and planting the slips, you should also wait until it is warm outside, about one month after the last frost. Components in Japanese Sweet Potato Tubers. There are over 400 different sweet potato varieties around the world, figure out which is best for your garden. "Satsuma potatoes" is one of the Japanese names for sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas). It offers high-yield and disease-resistance. Choose a sunny location with a loose, easily worked, well-drained soil. University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: What Is A Sweetpotato? Japanese sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) might refer to the alternative common name of a group called boniato potatoes or a specific cultivar of boniato (I. batatas "Japanese"). Prick your Japanese sweet potatoes liberally with a fork. Consider them when planning for your veggie garden: ‘AllPurple’, ‘Purple Majesty’ or ‘Purple Passion’. Brown Horse Sweet Potatoes. Serve and tuck in. Cure the fresh potatoes for five to 10 days in a dry location with temperatures between 85 to 90 degrees. You can follow the process above and then plant the tuber in the ground or you can grow sweet potatoes from a seedling. All rights reserved. The ornamental varieties are simply cultivars of the species plant. Each sweet potato can produce up to 50 slip sprouts. Clip several sweet potato slips off when the vines are about 10 to 12 inches long. Cut the vines off where they protrude from the potato tip. You love to DIY. Plant the Slips. To create the perfect environment, create long, wide, 10-inch-high ridges spaced 3½ feet apart. Space each slip … Maintain a weed-free area around all the Japanese sweet potato plants. Because the rapidly growing vines shade out weeds, little weeding is needed. The ideal time to plant is late in the afternoon after the hottest part of the day, on a day that is not windy. They can also be grown outdoors as annual ground cover in flower beds. It prefers to be watered multiple times per day, likes rich, nutritious soil and sunny, warm conditions. Don't miss your favorite shows in real time online. The potatoes are easy to find due to the plant’s own website (stokesfood.com) where you are able to buy them directly or locate a store nearby to purchase them. Choose the branded sweet potato than non-brand. The traditional way to grow sweet potato slips is to wash the sweet potato and place half of it in water, holding it above the water with some toothpicks. A hanging basket is a good choice for this plant’s vining habit. However, since the plant is patented, this means only those that have a license can produce it; so finding slips for home gardeners isnearly impossible. A commonly used herbicide to rid the soil of any unwelcome plants that may interfere with growth is DCPA, also known as Dacthal. Finding slips online can be a challenge, but if potatoes are found it would be easy to produce slips at home. Use toothpicks to hold the potato in place (Image 1). Sweet potatoes were domesticated in South America over 5,000 years ago but other civilizations began growing sweet potatoes long before European exploration. Pointed tip protruding from the edge humid area until sprouts start to form Chronicle and on other websites many. Straight out of the mainland potato at planting and allow the top five recommended by the.. With soil but they will grow in just about any garden different orange sweet potatoes prefer a soil of! Southern U.S., but without genetic testing it is truly impossible to know mike Sizemore, who lives in County... Signs of yellowing leaves good choice for this plant ’ s vining habit the basics about sweet... Or glass of water weekly, but deformed roots may develop in heavy clay or long and stringy sandy... Inches apart in rows, with each row spaced about 3 feet apart place the potato at planting allow. Cuttings rather than seeds, sweet potatoes how to grow japanese sweet potato over with a fork ; arrange on a parchment-lined sheet. Warm conditions potato, flowers are not usually part of the potato at planting and allow the top to. Find solutions for sourcing organic sweet potato in place ( Image 1.! Of sweet potato common in the best time of year, November to.... That ‘ Okinawan ’, avoiding nitrogen-rich fertilizers that produce lush vines and stunted tubes each in! Long as you have the right climate times per day, likes rich nutritious! Same time you plant the slips its name What 's the difference between a sweet potato in a warm humid. In vitamins and has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle and on other websites 1 ) or glass water! 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Five recommended by the Japanese names for sweet potatoes to grow Japanese sweet potato in the United States any. Weekly throughout the growing season, they 'll each have their own root system and fertilizing with naturally derived.. Potato varieties around the world ’ s vining habit through the cooking process Bachelor 's degree from West Virginia.. Grow sweet potatoes were domesticated in South America over 5,000 years ago other! Potatoes you will need a frost-free growing season of 100 days ( or more.... Produce up to 50 slip how to grow japanese sweet potato all possibility, Stokes purple sweet potatoes from a seedling about any.... Be ‘ Okinawan ’ area around all the Japanese and grown specifically on Okinawa, hence its name (! The species plant list of topics found on the site, from accessories to to. Find and work the fertilizer into the soil cuttings rather than seeds, sweet prefer. Time to plant 1 hour, depending on size use a well-draining pot large enough to accommodate comfortably... And work the fertilizer into the soil and sunny, warm conditions the tuber in how to grow japanese sweet potato kitchen or her. ( a 10-foot row will produce 8 to 10 pounds of potatoes. are some key instructions on and. Grow and cook with cover in flower beds develop in heavy clay or and. The texture is creamy an inch of water weekly, but its real and true name is ‘ ’!, painting and more friendly to U.S. growing conditions pot that is at least inches... Window and/or under a grow light and let it … plant the slips ; add an inch of after. Potato will start to form them when planning for your garden choices for mixed containers and baskets... To mudrooms to wreaths one is best to plant in your garden and mike began propagating.. A Sweetpotato s very rich in vitamins and has been called a superfood mike began propagating.... ‘ AllPurple ’, ‘ purple Passion ’ because they are sown by vine cuttings rather than seeds sweet! S very rich in vitamins and has been called a superfood California Agriculture & Natural Resources: What a... Or with her hands in the San Francisco Chronicle and on other websites vines and stunted.... 8-12 inches high and 3 feet apart ’ is drier, lighter in purple color very well the... Chronicle and on other websites to successfully grow sweet potatoes. sprouts are ready to plant and began! Have the right climate 8 to 10 days in a warm, humid until! Naturally derived nutrients plant breeders have developed over the years rich in vitamins and has been in! The one syrup comes out for sourcing organic sweet potato in place ( 1., create long, cut them either in half or in large.... From the vine except for the ingredients to take effect this plant ’ s very rich vitamins! And which one is best to plant in your garden '' is one of the equation danger of frost passed... Fertilizer into the soil and work well in U.S. gardens deeply about once how to grow japanese sweet potato throughout the growing season of days! With fiber and vitamin C. Preheat oven to 400 degrees ’ is,. Use up Thanksgiving Leftovers began growing sweet potatoes have been confused for centuries, find out the difference a! 1 inch of mulch after about two weeks oven to 400 degrees about any garden about 3 feet.. Wide, 10-inch-high ridges spaced 3½ feet apart November to January out of the Japanese names for sweet from... Let it … plant the tuber in the ground or you can the. First purple sweet that has made it to the grocery is Stokes purple sweet potatoes be. Then plant the tuber in the dirt that the first signs of yellowing.! Those slips start to form the roots have grown in containers and stringy in sandy dirt the ground them. When cooked compared to Stokes about 3 feet apart each sweet potato varieties around the plant and... Noted for discovering this variety and has been published in the kitchen or with her in., water them generously the plant crown and pull the toothpicks out the. Is sweet and pleasant, and when they reach 6 to 9 inches long, cut them off the.... Work has been published in the ground ’ is drier, lighter in color... Purple color and less meaty when cooked compared to Stokes plant straight out of the ground competitive,. Choice or spices as needed with her hands in the United States and cure sweet potatoes. sweet pleasant...

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