Sweet potatoes are usually only available in stores as cuttings in nursery pots, but rarely as large plants. All the better that you have free choice when planting the young plants. The climbing plant can be impressively staged. Nevertheless, there are a few aspects you should consider when growing so that your Batate can develop well.
How do I plant sweet potatoes correctly?
To plant sweet potatoes, choose a sunny, warm location with nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Plant the young plant or cutting after the Ice Saints in mid-May at a distance of approx. 30 cm from each other. A mixed culture with fast-growing vegetables such as lettuce, radishes or spinach is recommended.
Preparation
Careful planning is necessary to ensure that your sweet potato develops the beautiful long shoots that initially make it so attractive. Note the dimensions that the plant takes on. If you want to plant your sweet potato on the edge of your property, you should first make sure that the plant does not overgrow towards the neighbor. You also have to decide between pot or outdoor cultivation. Ultimately, the question also arises as to whether you should buy a finished specimen from the nursery or take the somewhat laborious option of growing with seed tubers. The middle way is to grow from a tuber from the supermarket or a cutting. However, the latter requires the presence of a plant from which you take the cutting. Sweet potatoes grow after just a few days in bright locations either in the substrate or in a water bath.
The choice of location
The sweet potato comes from the tropics and therefore loves sunny, warm locations. A partially shaded spot is also conceivable, but not ideal. Balconies, terraces or beds that face south, on the other hand, are perfect.
Tip
A greenhouse also provides sufficient heat. Alternatively, a fleece is recommended, which also offers the advantage of accustoming the plant to intense sunlight. This is necessary at the beginning, especially with young plants.
Demands on the soil
In terms of soil conditions, batate requires a very nutrient-rich substrate. You can create the best conditions by working some compost into the soil before planting. We also recommend sandy soil, which should definitely be well-drained to prevent waterlogging. If you keep your sweet potatoes in a pot, conventional potting soil (€10.00 on Amazon) is completely sufficient.
The right time
Don't put your sweet potato - whether it's a young plant or a home-grown cutting - outside until the nighttime frosts have subsided. At sub-zero temperatures, growth stagnates or, in the worst case, the batate dies. The time after the Ice Saints in mid-May serves as a guide. By the way: You should start growing cuttings in January.
Planting partner
The faster the batate forms roots, the slower it will grow in the soil in the first few months. To bridge this time and beautify the bare bed, a mixed culture is suitable. To do this, choose vegetable varieties that you can harvest after a short time, for example
- Salad
- Radish
- or spinach
At the same time, the roots of these transitional plants protect against soil erosion.
Planting instructions
Have you cleared the bed of weeds and roots? Then it can go. How to Plant a Sweet Potato:
- loose the soil well
- If necessary, remove the young plant from the nursery pot and free the ball of excess soil
- build earth dams 20 cm high and 60 cm wide with a minimum distance of one meter
- place the sweet potato in the soil at least 30 cm apart
Info: The ridge method has proven particularly effective when planting sweet potatoes. On the one hand, you reduce the risk of waterlogging, and on the other hand, the piled up earth warms up more quickly.
Alternatives to planting in beds and creative design options
Sweet potatoes not only produce edible tubers, but also beautify your garden with great flowers and long shoots. Here are some ideas for garden design:
- in the hanging basket
- as a tendril on walls, walls or railings
- in the raised bed
- for covering old caravans, car tires, etc.
- as privacy screen
