Growing Sweet Potatoes in Containers: How to Do It Right
Are you interested in growing sweet potatoes in containers? As a part of the root vegetable, sweet potatoes aren’t only delicious and tasty, but also nutritious.
A lot of people are surprised to find out that they can even grow the veggie within a container or in a bag. So, if you have a limited space in your garden, it’s always possible to do it in a bag. The key of growing sweet potatoes in bags or containers is to understand how to do it right.
Facts about Sweet Potatoes and the Growth
Sweet potatoes are different from the regular potatoes, in terms that they aren’t grown from seeds. Instead, they grow from their sprouts or slips. Before growing sweet potatoes in containers, you also need to know that they like sunny and warm condition.
You don’t really need to have a lot of space to grow it. A container in your patio or balcony would be enough. What’s important is to understand the steps or stages.
The Right Container
The first step in growing sweet potatoes in containers is going with the right container. Sweet potatoes need plenty of room for their roots to spread out, so it's important to choose a container that is large enough to accommodate this.
Ideally, the container should be at least 12 to 18 inches deep and 20 inches wide. A container of this size will give the roots enough space to grow and produce large, healthy tubers.
You can use various types of containers, such as large pots, grow bags, or even plastic buckets with drainage holes. Drainage is crucial because sweet potatoes don’t like soggy soil.
Make sure the container you choose has holes at the bottom to allow excess water to drain away. You can also add a layer of gravel or small stones at the bottom of the container to improve drainage further.
Soil Preparation
Sweet potatoes prefer loose and rich soil with good draining trait. To prepare the perfect growing medium, mix equal parts of potting soil, compost, and sand. This mixture will help create a loose, airy texture that allows the sweet potato roots to expand easily.
The compost adds necessary nutrients, while the sand ensures good drainage, preventing the roots from rotting due to excess moisture.
The Needed Time
How long to grow sweet potatoes in containers? They generally need between 90 days and 120 days to mature, but it depends on the growing conditions and variety. This means that you’ll be harvesting your sweet potatoes roughly three to four months after planting
To check if they’re ready to harvest, you can dig around the edge of the container to inspect the size of the tubers. Once the foliage begins to yellow and die back, it’s a good sign that the sweet potatoes are ready for harvest.
After harvesting, don’t forget that you need to cure the sweet potatoes to strengthen the natural sweetness. Leave them in a warm and humid area for about 1-2 weeks.
Afterward, you can enjoy them. Now that you have learned about growing sweet potatoes in containers, would you grow one at home?