If you want to plant sweet potatoes, you have made a great decision. This tuber is very versatile, others know it as sweet potato or sweet potato, depending on where you are. Its flavour is perfect to combine with various foods and today we will tell you everything you need to know to have them in your garden.

For a good crop yield, you can use facilities such as the multi-tunnel greenhouse, the gothic greenhouse or the multi wide-span greenhouse. These spaces allow you to control the temperature and protect the plants, but before you go with one of them, let’s learn all about sweet potatoes.

1. What are sweet potatoes?
2. Properties of sweet potato
3. When are sweet potatoes planted?
4. Sweet potato care
5. How to plant sweet potatoes in the pot?
6. Necessary conditions for sweet potato cultivation
7. Types of sweet potato to grow
   • Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes
   • Sweet potatoes with purple flesh
   • Yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes
   • White-fleshed sweet potatoes
8. Differences between sweet potato and yam

What are sweet potatoes?

Sweet potatoes are often referred to as yams, sweet potatoes or sweet potatoes. These tubers resemble the potato, but are from different families. They originate from South America and can be grown in different varieties, with pink, white or orange flesh.

They thrive in warm climates and are said to be one of the first foods to travel from the Americas to Europe in 1493. Since then it has been well received and is considered an ingredient with good nutritional value, as well as perfect for many recipes.

Properties of sweet potato

Planting sweet potatoes will bring different benefits, as they have very good nutritional properties, even superior to other tubers.

Some of the most prominent are:

• It is easy to digest, as it contains 70% starch.
• It has a good energy content, providing 100 kilocalories per 100 grams.
• It tends to lower blood sugar compared to other carbohydrates, which is why it is often eaten by some patients with diabetes.
• It is a rich source of flavonoids
• It contains vitamin A and many natural antioxidants ideal for the skin and immune system.

When are sweet potatoes planted?

Before planting sweet potatoes, you should also consider the right time to plant them. This will vary according to the area you are in, as they thrive in warm climates. It is best to plant them between April and June.

Always remember that crops must be grown in the ideal conditions for them to develop correctly. Try to leave enough space between plantations and analyse the centimetres according to the type of sweet potato you choose.

Cuidados del boniato

When you have finished planting sweet potatoes, it’s time to take care of them so that your harvest is the best it can be. Here are some essential tips:

• They must have enough light, as they need good sunshine to grow.
• It should be watered frequently, on average 48 hours during the summer months and 72 hours in other seasons.
• The soil should be well hydrated and loose, fortunately it is not a demanding food to grow. Use some organic fertiliser to supplement nutrients.
• Remember to take cuttings from the plant in early spring, this helps it to grow better.

How to plant sweet potatoes in the pot?

The steps to planting sweet potatoes are simple. Here we will explain everything you need to consider whether you want to have the food in your garden or in the greenhouse.

1. Seed or plant collection: Healthy seed can be obtained by cuttings, sprouts that appear the tuber itself when ripe. The ideal is to go to a nursery and obtain them.
2. Climate: Remember that it should be warm weather seasons or within a conditioned space of 15 to 35 °C.
3. Soil: Prepare the soil, leave it loose and deep enough to add the seeds.
4. Irrigation: The soil should be moist, and watering should take place within 48 to 72 hours, as indicated above.
5. Diseases and pests: Keep the plants free of any pests, such as black doughnut or worms. Do not plant next to other plants that may affect it over time.
6. Harvest: To get to harvest you have to wait about 6 months after planting, and even all by hand. To know that they are ready, the leaves of the plant turn yellowish.
7. Storage: The sweet potato can be stored in rooms with sufficient ventilation and 80% humidity. If the temperature drops below 12 °C, the sweet potato may be damaged.

Necessary conditions for sweet potato cultivation

Although we have already given you some useful tips for sweet potato cultivation, we must make several points clear.

• Temperature: It is ideal to keep it between 20 and 35 degrees.
• Humidity: It should be moderate, neither excessive nor too dry, but unlike other types of planting, it does not require very well hydrated roots because it can rot.
• Soil: Must be well drained, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

Types of sweet potato to grow

You should also know the types of sweet potatoes to choose the one you like best. However, if you wish, you can grow each variety.

Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes

Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are very popular and recommended by nutritionists. Their vitamin A content makes them special and excellent for health. However, there is not only one with this colour, as there are other varieties such as those found in the United States:

• Jowel: Its roots are quite long and it has a thick bark.
• Centennial: The taste is milder and somewhat sweeter, being a favourite for baking cakes.
• Georgia jet: A special variety produced by the University of Georgia.
• Beauregard: The taste is sweet and milder than others, especially after cooking.

Sweet potatoes with purple flesh

Sweet potatoes with purple flesh are very delicious and common in temperate and warm areas. The skin varies in colour, as they are purple, red, brown and somewhat white. In addition, the roots are tuberous because they have a lot of starch and various nutrients, and are even considered to be the type of sweet potato with the most antioxidants.

Yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes

This type of sweet potato is also very delicious, rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium and fibre. Although other tubers have similar properties, this one is different because of its taste.

Most common are varieties such as:

• Criolla amarilla or colorada: Common in Argentina, with a sweet taste.
• Tucumana morada: It is so called because its skin is purple. It is usually easy to preserve.

Boniatos de pulpa blanca

For the white-fleshed we have some important varieties such as:

• O’ Henry: one of the best known in the north of Spain and with great sweetness, ideal for desserts.
• Criolla blanca or manteca: With a very fleshy white flesh.
• Brasilera blanca: It is more elongated and popular in Argentina and Peru.
• Satsumaimo: It is popular in Japan and has somewhat reddish skin.

Differences between sweet potato and yam

Talking about sweet potato and yam can be confusing, especially if you research the food in different countries. However, we are talking about the same thing. They are different names for the same tuber and if you ask for it under both names, you will be sold the same thing.

On the other hand, if you wish to have a sweet potato crop, do not hesitate to organize a controlled planting in safe spaces. Fertri greenhouses are a fabulous option for this.

There are alternatives such as the multi-tunnel greenhouse, the gothic greenhouse or the multi wide-span greenhouse. Choose the one that best suits your space and needs.