Sweet Potatoes

This page is an open source resource guide for sweet potatoes. It is for growing and maintaining the most bio-diverse, delicious, and broadly applicable sweet potato selection possible. It contains cultural considerations, planting guidelines, descriptions, and the best places we’ve found for purchasing the species we’ve listed. As part of the One Community Highest Good food component of global transformation, this page will continue to evolve indefinitely to contain maintenance and care tips, accessioning and plant breeding and sharing information as part of the One Community open source botanical garden model, and even recipe’s, preparations, and preservation methods used on the property.

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Click these links to be taken directly to the relevant sections on this page:

• Sweet Potato Overview
• Cultural Considerations
• Planting Guidelines
• Specific Varieties
• Plant Material/Seed Providers
• Other Sweet Potato Resources
• Sweet Potatoes as Part of the Botanical Garden Model
• Sweet Potato Preparation, Preservation, and Recipes
• Links to Other Edible Plant Pages

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SWEET POTATOES

(Click here for sweet potato purchase details)

Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)

The sweet potato, sometimes erroneously called a “yam” in the U.S., is neither a true yam (Dioscorea spp.) or closely related to potatoes (Solanum spp.) but is instead a species of morning glory. They form sprawling ground hugging vines and are evergreen perennials in their tropical homeland. The large tuberous roots are an important staple in many parts of the world and grown in cold winter climates as annuals.

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

• The plants need warmth and rich soil
• They are subject to several insect pests and diseases
• The plants are generally planted as “slips” – rooted vine pieces
• Tubers can be left in the ground and overwintered under mulch
• Soils should be rich in organic matter, but avoid excessive nitrogen

PLANTING GUIDELINES

If planting from slips, plant out in full sun after soil has warmed sufficiently in spring. If planting from tubers or tuber pieces be sure soil can be kept warm until vines emerge. Black mulches, row covers, polytunnels, or hoop houses are all strategies that can help raise sweet potatoes in cooler climates.

VIDEO COMING: Planting tutorial followed by timelapse growth videos

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Wikipedia ” Sweet Potato

GSP#1 :: Allgold Sweet Potato Allgold sweet potato was developed by Dr. Corner of Oklahoma A&M College in 1952. It has yellow-orange skin and flesh with vigorous vines which makes it an excellent ornamental or ground cover. Generally, Allgold is ready for harvest in 90-100 days GSP#2 :: Beauregard Sweet Potato Beauregard, considered the world’s most popular sweet potato, was developed at Louisiana State University in 1987 and has deep-orange flesh and uniform reddish-purple skin. Grown as a tough, straight plant and best suited for mechanical transplanting, it is favored for its high yields and moderate resistance to soil rot and internal cork systems. Beauregard sweet potato is harvested in about 90 days. GSP#3 :: Cordner’s Red Sweet Potato Cordner’s Red sweet potato originated from breeding material of Dr. H. B. Cordner of Oklahoma, and has been grown for more than 50 years. This variety was given its name by local growers as it was never officially released. An heirloom with moist, orange flesh and purple-red skin, Cordner’s Red is a semi-compact bush type plant. It needs a fair amount of maintenance to grow successfully and is ready for harvest in 90-120 days. GSP#4 :: Dianne Sweet Potato Developed in California, Dianne sweet potato was named by a long-time farmer named Joe Alvernaz. It has red skin with deep-orange flesh and long, torpedo shaped tubers. This vigorous grower also has fat stalks with spiky leaves. GSP#5 :: Garnet Sweet Potato Garnet is a sweet potato with big vines and maple leaves. It has salmon, semi-thick skin and the orange flesh turns golden-yellow when cooked. This variety has a cylindrical shape that tapers at the ends. Its flavor is sweet, and its starchy texture makes it easy to absorb the flavors of accompanying ingredients. Garnet sweet potato can be harvested in 160 days. GSP#6 :: Georgia Jet Sweet Potato Georgia Jet sweet potato is cold tolerant (despite its Southern reputation) and therefore grows well in areas with short growing seasons. This variety has dark-green vines with dusky-rose skin, and dark-orange flesh. This mildly-porous potato is often huge, and its flesh is sweet and moist, making it perfect for baking. Georgia Jet can be harvested 85-90 days from transplant. GSP#7 :: Ginseng Orange Sweet Potato Ginseng Orange sweet potato is a good producer with a high beta carotene content. It has dark orange flesh, fairly uniform roots, and a slightly sweet (like pumpkin) taste that adds extra deliciousness to sweet potato dishes. Plant Ginseng Orange early to increase tuber size. GSP#8 :: Golden Sweet Sweet Potato Golden Sweet is a sweet potato variety developed in California and named by Joe Alvernaz, who also named the Dianne variety. Winner of the 2006 Santa Clara County Master gardener’s taste test, this golden-skinned sweet potato lives up to its name. A good producer of the dry type, Golden Sweet has wiry green rambling vines, small heart-shaped leaves, and is available for harvesting in about 100 days. GSP#9 :: Hannah Sweet Potato Hannah sweet potato is also known as the “Yellow Hannah” or “Sweet Hannah.” It is considered a dry type with yellow tender flesh and oblong shape, mild taste, and an off-white-to-tan semi-smooth skin.

We will also be growing the following additional sweet potatoes:

Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) :: GSP#10-GSP#21

10. 8863 11. Amish Red 12. Apache 13. Barberman 14. Bermuda Pink 15. Betty’s 16. Bradshaw 17. Bugtussle 18. Cook Family Heirloom 19. Cuban Red 20. Envy 21. Georgia Giant

Sweet Potato Plant Material/Seed Providers:

• SSE = Seed Savers Exchange http://www.seedsavers.org

Sweet Potato Purchase Details

OTHER SWEET POTATO RESOURCES

We are seeking awesome sweet potato resources. If you know of one, please click here to share it with us so we can make this page better.

SWEET POTATOES AS PART OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN MODEL

This section will evolve to include accessioning and plant breeding and sharing information as part of the One Community open source botanical garden model.

SWEET POTATO PREPARATION, PRESERVATION, AND RECIPES

This section will evolve to include testimonials, recipe’s, preparations, and preservation methods used on the property first, and then later with additional information from other Highest Good collaborators and teacher/demonstration hubs.

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Recipe courtesy of: Simply Recipes

Sweet Potato Pancakes

Recipe courtesy of: PaleoAholic

LINKS TO OTHER EDIBLE PLANT PAGES