Sweet Potatoeswww.strawberryhillfarm.ca

Growing Slips Heat to start sprouts on roots prior to

planting Plant only sprouted roots Do not cut roots – unlike potatoes which are

a tuber. Can remove slips over a 4 week time period Less stress at planting and more root =

faster take off Substantial cost and space required Risk of carrying over disease with

repeatedly using same stock

Buying Slips Much lower cost Plant all at once Slower establishment Less likely to carry on disease – no roots NC Growers are growing from TC and

virus indexing Faster planting Slightly less yield

General Information Will not grow below 60 degrees F Roots damage below 50 degrees F Day length sensitive

Require less than 13 hr. for root enlargement Early planting tends to promote sporadic

root development Ideal planting time for us is June 5-15

May planting less productiveJune 20 planting is getting too late

Site selection Full Sun from morning ‘til night Warm location Sandy loam soil

Don’t do as well in a clay loam Avoid early frosts in the fall Avoid wireworm or grub infested fields

Avoid fields that have been in sod for years Avoid deer habitat or prepare to fence Watch for mouse and rat damage

Soil Preparation Weeds – cultivate early season weeds Use deep cultivation to loosen soil Use bed shaper to make bed Cover with plastic layer Clear plastic works best for us if weeds

are not significant problem Try to cover a few days prior to planting to

heat the soil. May also be able to solarize weeds but needs to be hot for that to work

Planting 5’ wide bed center to bed center 30” bed top 2 rows staggered at 1.5’between (9” of bed)

gives best result1 X 12” row gives less per acre2 X 12” yields smaller tubers and similar to 1 rowBest for us = 2 X 18”

Hole about ¾ - 1” diameter is bestToo small = no room for shootsToo large = excessive weed growth and less heat

in bed

Picture taken June 16, 2014 bought slips

Planted June 11-12 – bought slipsPicture taken June 29, 2015

Picture taken July 1, 2013 our own slips

Picture taken July 8, 2013 own slips

Picture taken July 15 2013 our slips

Picture taken July 15, 2013 bought slips

Picture taken July 15, 2013 bought slips

Picture taken July 22, 2013 bought slips

Picture taken August 5, 2013 – Note deer fence

Picture taken August 5, 2013

Picture taken August 19, 2014

Picture taken August 16, 2015 double spaced at 18 inches (9” staggered)

Picture taken August 16, 2015 double spaced at 18 inches (9” staggered)

Weekly 9-2 to 9-24

4 plants 3.55 lb.

4 plants 6.05 lb.

4 plants 8.25 lb.

4 plants 8.7 lb

When to Harvest Soil temps are above 50 F, below 60 F Want to avoid frost damaging the tubers Very little growth after tops are damaged by

frostConsider covering for an early frost

Little evidence that covering other than for frost is helpful to get a better crop. Season long cover definitely not advantagousLast couple weeks might help – don’t know yet.

Picture taken September 17, 2012 Harvested with a fork – good yield lots of weeds…

Digger being used for regular potatoes

Picture taken September 25, 2015

October 6 2014

Curing & Storage Why Cure

Set the skinHeal woundsTurn starches to sugarsDramatically increase storage

5 days at 85 – 87 degrees F Up to 2 weeks if not quite so warm Store 55 – 60 degrees

Will damage below 50 degrees

Comparisons Tried brown IRT, green, black, white

biodegradable, and clear non-bio. About 30% increase from black to clear

plastic Some difference in yield between starting own

slips and buying, but not enough to offset other issues of time, space and heat cost

Numbers Yield ranges from 1-2 pounds per slip except

worst year 2013 was closer to ½ lb. Cost of production is about $0.53 per pound

in the warehouseLabour plus supplies, fert. and slips

Sold for $1.50-$2.00 per pound Gross harvest per acre ~ 18,000 lb. Gross sales per acre ~ $31,000

Varieties Beauregard – orange flesh

Best over many years growingOld variety

Covington – orange fleshGood variety similar to Beauregard

Orleans – orange fleshGood potential after 1st year 2015

Evangeline – bright orange, little lower yield Others with mixed results

Bonita, Japanese Yam, Satsumaimo, O’Henry, Carver, Georgia Jet