Growing Sweet Potatoes in Western NC

Does anyone have any tips for growing sweet potatoes? I ordered Beauragard sweet potato slips to plant this year.Several people I know have had no luck with them in this area. I have heard they like a poorer soil than a lot of things grown in the garden.

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Permalink Reply by Polly McDaniel on March 12, 2009 at 1:02pm

I wonder if the guys out at the Ag Research Station in Fletcher can give you some guidance, Samantha?

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Permalink Reply by Katherine on March 12, 2009 at 10:40pm

I have had great luck here with sweet potatoes for the last 10 years - I grow Beauregard, I think they are the best. The only problem are the voles who love them too! I have good soil, clay/humus. I generally plant in Mid may, in hills, about 1 foot between plants. GOod to plant on a cloudy day and keep watered the first week. After that I just mulch them with grass clippings and let them go. They will start vining maybe the end of June. Don't let the vines attach in places other than the main root or the plant will expend energy making new roots there instead of the big roots you want to eat. One year I had terrible vole damage, they like to eat parts of each potato. A good hunter cat is the best way to deal with voles.

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Permalink Reply by Sally Biggers on March 17, 2009 at 2:45pm

Samantha; Found some good information about growing sweet potatoes at: http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crops-and-gardening/growing-sweet-potato-... . The cultivation information is about 1/2 way down on the article

Sally

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Permalink Reply by ann adkins on May 2, 2009 at 2:37pm

We have grown sweet potatoes for several years. We set the plants out around the last of May or first of June. Lay your row of and then dig a ridge on it several inches [8] high. Set the plants in the ridge and keep watered until started growing, when hoeing dig dirt on ridge. We have found sweet potatoes like clay soil better than black. We always make plenty.