How To Plant Sweet Potatoes In A Pot
Key Takeaways
Growing sweet potatoes in pots is a rewarding experience! Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to know:
- Choosing the right pot: Opt for a large container (at least 10 gallons) with good drainage.
- Preparing the soil: Use a well-draining potting mix enriched with compost.
- Starting slips (optional): You can grow your own sweet potato slips from a store-bought sweet potato or purchase them.
- Planting the slips: Plant slips deeply, leaving only a few leaves above the soil.
- Watering and fertilizing: Keep the soil consistently moist and fertilize regularly.
- Harvesting: Be patient! Sweet potatoes need a long growing season (around 100-120 days).
Why Grow Sweet Potatoes in Pots?
You might be thinking, “Sweet potatoes? In pots? Is that even possible?” The answer is a resounding yes! While traditionally grown in gardens with plenty of space, sweet potatoes thrive surprisingly well in containers. There are several compelling reasons to consider growing your own sweet potatoes in pots:
- Limited Space: If you have a small balcony, patio, or even just a sunny windowsill, growing sweet potatoes in pots allows you to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce without a sprawling garden.
- Control Over Soil: Container gardening gives you complete control over the soil composition. You can ensure your sweet potatoes have the perfect growing medium, rich in nutrients and well-draining.
- Pest and Disease Management: Growing in pots can help minimize exposure to soilborne pests and diseases that often plague sweet potatoes in the ground.
- Easier Harvesting: Harvesting sweet potatoes from pots is much easier than digging them up from the ground. Simply tip the pot over and gently remove the potatoes.
- Extending the Growing Season: In colder climates, you can easily move your potted sweet potatoes indoors during cooler months to extend the growing season.
Choosing the Right Pot and Soil
Success with sweet potatoes in pots hinges on selecting the right container and soil. Think big! Sweet potatoes need room to develop their tubers.
Pot Size Matters
Opt for a large container, ideally at least 10 gallons. A larger pot allows the sweet potato roots to spread out and produce more tubers. Avoid shallow containers, as sweet potatoes need depth. Plastic or terracotta pots work well, but ensure they have adequate drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
The Perfect Soil Mix
Sweet potatoes prefer well-draining soil rich in organic matter. A good potting mix is essential. Avoid using garden soil, as it can become compacted in pots and hinder root growth. A mix of:
- High-quality potting mix
- Compost
- Perlite or vermiculite (for drainage)
This combination will provide the necessary nutrients and drainage for healthy sweet potato growth. You can also amend the soil with slow-release fertilizer to provide a steady supply of nutrients throughout the growing season.
Starting Sweet Potato Slips: The Key to Success
Sweet potatoes don’t grow directly from seeds like many other vegetables. Instead, they are typically grown from “slips,” which are sprouts that emerge from the sweet potato itself. You have two options: purchase slips from a nursery or grow your own. Growing your own slips is a fun and economical way to start your sweet potato journey.
Growing Your Own Sweet Potato Slips
Here’s how to grow your own sweet potato slips:
- Choose a Healthy Sweet Potato: Select a firm, disease-free sweet potato from the grocery store or farmers market. Organic sweet potatoes are often a better choice to avoid any growth inhibitors.
- Prepare the Sweet Potato: You can either suspend the sweet potato in a jar of water (using toothpicks to hold it in place) or bury it halfway in a container filled with moist potting mix.
- Provide Warmth and Light: Place the jar or container in a warm, sunny location.
- Wait and Watch: Within a few weeks, you should start to see sprouts (slips) emerging from the sweet potato.
- Harvesting the Slips: Once the slips are 6-8 inches long, gently twist or cut them off the sweet potato.
- Rooting the Slips: Place the slips in a jar of water, allowing them to develop roots. This usually takes a few days to a week.
Once the slips have developed roots, they are ready to be planted in your pots.
Planting Your Sweet Potato Slips
Now comes the exciting part – planting your sweet potato slips! Follow these steps for successful planting:
- Prepare the Pot: Fill your pot with the prepared potting mix, leaving a few inches of space at the top.
- Plant the Slips: Make a hole in the soil deep enough to accommodate the roots of the slip. Plant the slip deeply, leaving only a few leaves above the soil. This encourages root development along the stem.
- Water Thoroughly: Water the newly planted slips thoroughly.
- Provide Support (Optional): If your slips are tall and leggy, you can provide them with support using small stakes or trellises.
Caring for Your Potted Sweet Potatoes
Once planted, your sweet potatoes will need regular care to thrive. Here’s what you need to do:
Watering
Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. Avoid overhead watering, as this can promote fungal diseases. Drip irrigation is an excellent option for container-grown sweet potatoes.
Fertilizing
Sweet potatoes are heavy feeders and need regular fertilization. Use a balanced fertilizer or one specifically formulated for root vegetables. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks during the growing season.
Sunlight
Sweet potatoes need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Place your pots in a sunny location where they will receive ample sunlight. If you live in a hot climate, consider providing some afternoon shade to prevent the plants from overheating.
Pest and Disease Control
Keep an eye out for pests such as aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Treat any infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Also, monitor your plants for signs of diseases such as fungal leaf spots. Improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal problems.
Harvesting Your Sweet Potatoes
Harvest time is the most rewarding part of growing sweet potatoes. But patience is key! Sweet potatoes need a long growing season, typically around 100-120 days. Here’s how to know when your sweet potatoes are ready for harvest:
- Check the Foliage: The leaves of your sweet potato plants will start to turn yellow and brown, indicating that the tubers are mature.
- Test Dig: Carefully dig around one of the plants to check the size and maturity of the tubers.
- Harvest Time: Once the sweet potatoes have reached a desirable size (usually 3-6 inches long), it’s time to harvest!
To harvest, gently tip the pot over and carefully remove the sweet potatoes. Be careful not to damage the skins, as this can reduce their storage life. Cure your sweet potatoes for a week or two in a warm, humid place to allow the skins to harden.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I grow sweet potatoes from store-bought sweet potatoes?
Yes, you absolutely can! In fact, that’s the most common way to start growing sweet potatoes at home. Just follow the steps outlined earlier for growing sweet potato slips.
What if my sweet potato plant doesn’t produce any tubers?
There are several reasons why your sweet potato plant might not produce tubers. Common causes include insufficient sunlight, poor soil quality, over-fertilization with nitrogen, or a short growing season. Make sure your plants are getting enough sunlight, are planted in well-draining soil, and are fertilized appropriately.
How often should I water my potted sweet potatoes?
Water your sweet potatoes whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. The frequency of watering will depend on the weather conditions, the size of your pot, and the type of potting mix you are using. In hot, dry weather, you may need to water daily. In cooler, wetter weather, you may only need to water every few days.
Can I grow sweet potatoes indoors?
While sweet potatoes prefer to be outdoors in full sun, you can grow them indoors if you provide them with sufficient light. Place your pots near a sunny window or use grow lights. Keep in mind that indoor-grown sweet potatoes may not produce as many tubers as those grown outdoors.
