The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: Big Mat on January 27, 2018, 06:44:35 pm

Title: Sweet potatoes
Post by: Big Mat on January 27, 2018, 06:44:35 pm: Evening all,

What are everyones experiences with growing sweet potatoes?

I'm thinking about trying a few this year. We're expanding the veg plot, usually just do a few king edwards and some salad.

Options for putting them in would be straw bale gardens ( trying for the first time on a new plot that needs plenty of compost so rotten bales should help )

A well rotted raised bed that's mainly compost, very free draining ( lifted potatoes on christmas day last year from it! )

Or into the ground, fresh dug soil that's been pasture for 20+ years. Heavyish fen clay stuff.

thanks
Mat
Title: Re: Sweet potatoes
Post by: Lesley Silvester on January 27, 2018, 11:02:37 pm: I tried some in a deep box and the results were too small to bother with. The goats enjoyed them though. I was warned that the Midlands were too far north to grow sweet potatoes outside. You may find the same unless you can cover them.
Title: Re: Sweet potatoes
Post by: Big Mat on January 27, 2018, 11:07:34 pm: I could try some in the poly tunnel ( provided I get it recovered in time ).

Got fleece to cover to start with
Title: Re: Sweet potatoes
Post by: Terry T on January 28, 2018, 12:16:13 am: I had a go with them in the pokytunnel but again they took too long to get going and produced tiny sweet potatoes.
Title: Re: Sweet potatoes
Post by: Rupert the bear on January 28, 2018, 01:31:18 pm: Quote from: Mad Goatwoman of Madeley on January 27, 2018, 11:02:37 pm
I tried some in a deep box and the results were too small to bother with. The goats enjoyed them though. I was warned that the Midlands were too far north to grow sweet potatoes outside. You may find the same unless you can cover them.
I have to disagree, we have grown sweet potatoes successfully here in Aberdeenshire , only regret was not planting more ! they grew to a reasonable size in a peat / compost mixture.
Title: Re: Sweet potatoes
Post by: macgro7 on January 28, 2018, 06:02:48 pm: Don't grow from sweet potato from asda! Grow specific varieties suited to our climate.
Title: Re: Sweet potatoes
Post by: Big Mat on January 28, 2018, 06:59:43 pm: Quote from: macgro7 on January 28, 2018, 06:02:48 pm
Don't grow from sweet potato from asda! Grow specific varieties suited to our climate.

What would you recommend?
Title: Re: Sweet potatoes
Post by: Lesley Silvester on January 28, 2018, 11:43:00 pm: Quote from: Rupert the bear on January 28, 2018, 01:31:18 pm
Quote from: Mad Goatwoman of Madeley on January 27, 2018, 11:02:37 pm
I tried some in a deep box and the results were too small to bother with. The goats enjoyed them though. I was warned that the Midlands were too far north to grow sweet potatoes outside. You may find the same unless you can cover them.
I have to disagree, we have grown sweet potatoes successfully here in Aberdeenshire , only regret was not planting more ! they grew to a reasonable size in a peat / compost mixture.

Perhaps I should give it another go then. I bought mine as small plants in a local garden centre so they should grow here but I was advised long ago that they wouldn't. May try them under cover. My garden is south facing so gets all the sun and I'd love to be able to grown them.
Title: Re: Sweet potatoes
Post by: Alex_ on January 29, 2018, 12:53:37 pm: I only tried once from slips I bought. they were all far to small to do anything with so I was disappointed.

You are best sticking them in a warm sunny place like a poly or greenhouse