Sweet potatoes

number9

I'm thinking about growing sweet potatoes this year. I am aware that it grows quite aggressively. Do you have any preference for container, raised bed or ground planting? When the crop is harvested, what do you do with the Vines and leaves ?

Arthog

I grew them last year and was very pleased with the results - over 3 Kg from one plant. Harvested in metric for the sake of my 5 yr old assistant.
You'll need a 2ft min deep tub as the roots head for the centre of the earth. Mine is an old paint tin which must be lined with a strong rubble bag or similar. Both need drainage holes. Ask on Freecycle for a tin or tub. If grown in the open ground, harvesting involves very deep digging apparently.
Buy a plant from a garden centre - look out for them from mid-April.
They are not hardy and mine was in a cold grenhouse. We're in Cambs. They are being bred for this country so get current information about growing them in your area.
They need a lot of water and need feeding well.
The shoots grow to 6-8ft and are attractive. They can sprawl or be tied up.
Harvest well before risk of frost and store in a dry cool cupboard.
When I harvested them I found that 2 shoots had layered on the compost and there were 2 new plants which are now in pots on the windowsill in the house ready for this year - fingers crossed.

number9

Thanks for the advice. I'll go for it.

Scatteynan

I was thinking about grow Sweet Potatoes. Will give it ago after ready this,

thanks for the post and reply.

Living_proof

Thanks Arthog - I also hope to have a go this year and will put them in my polytunnel. I am going to try and grow the slips myself from locally grown sp's but this may not work if they have been sprayed with a bud retardant. I will start them in early February and if they fail there should still be time to order the very expensive slips. I will try and grow them up a trellis as they seem to take over all space available. A sandy soil is ideal I understand.