SoCal Home Gardening

Sweet Potatoes

Warm-season crop, nutritious and versatile.

Information on Growing Sweet Potatoes

Growing sweet potatoes in a home garden can be a rewarding and delicious experience. Here is a detailed guide to help you become a successful sweet potato gardener:

1. Climate and Soil Requirements: - Sweet potatoes are warm-weather crops, so they grow best in regions with a long growing season and average temperatures between 70-90�F (21-32�C). - They require full sun, so choose a spot in your garden that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. - Sweet potatoes flourish in well-draining, sandy loam soil with a pH of 5.5-6.5. The soil should be loose, rich in organic matter, and not overly compacted.

2. Choosing and Preparing the Planting Site: - Before planting, ensure that the soil is adequately amended with compost or well-rotted manure to improve its fertility and structure. - Remove any weeds or grass from the planting site, and loosen the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches using a garden fork or tiller. - If your soil is heavy clay or poorly draining, consider building raised beds or mounds to improve drainage and promote healthy root growth.

3. Selecting Sweet Potato Varieties: - There are various sweet potato varieties to choose from, each with its own flavor, texture, and color. - Popular varieties include Beauregard, Covington, Jewel, and Murasaki, but check with your local nursery or cooperative extension for the best varieties suited to your region.

4. Starting Sweet Potato Slips: - Sweet potato plants are typically grown from slips, which are young shoots that sprout from mature sweet potatoes. - To initiate slips, purchase certified disease-free sweet potatoes or use organic ones from your previous harvest. - About 6-8 weeks before your last frost date, submerge the sweet potato halfway in a jar filled with water, suspending it with toothpicks. Keep the jar in a warm location. - After a few weeks, the sweet potato will produce sprouts (slips) from the top. You can gently remove these slips and place them in a container with water to develop roots.

5. Planting Sweet Potato Slips: - Once the slips have grown roots that are 2-3 inches long, they are ready to be transplanted into the garden. - Space the slips 12-18 inches apart in rows that are 3-4 feet apart. This allows enough room for the vines to spread and grow. - Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the roots and gently place each slip, burying it up to the bottom few leaves. Firm the soil around the slips.

6. Watering and Fertilizing: - Sweet potatoes require consistent moisture, especially during the first few weeks after planting and during dry spells. - Water deeply once or twice a week to ensure the soil remains evenly moist but not waterlogged. - Mulching around the plants with straw or wood chips can help conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds. - Fertilize sparingly with a balanced organic fertilizer at planting time and again after 4-6 weeks. Avoid excessive nitrogen, as it can lead to lush foliage and hinder tuber development.

7. Tending to the Plants: - Sweet potato vines are vigorous growers and can quickly cover the ground, choking out weeds. However, you may still need to hand-pull any weeds that manage to sprout. - Sweet potatoes are sensitive to competition, so removing any weeds around the plants is crucial. - As the vines spread, gently train them to prevent them from creeping into unwanted areas or overcrowding neighboring plants.

8. Harvesting: - Sweet potatoes are ready to harvest when the leaves and vines start to yellow and die back, usually around 100-140 days after planting. - Carefully dig around the base of the plant with a spade or garden fork to loosen the roots. - Lift the tubers out of the soil one at a time, being cautious to avoid any cuts or bruises that might lead to rot. - Allow the harvested sweet potatoes to cure for a week or two at temperatures between 80-85�F (27-29�C) and high humidity. This process improves their flavor, enhances sweetness, and extends their shelf life.

By following these steps and providing proper care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of nutritious and delicious sweet potatoes from your home garden.

Sweet Potatoes Varieties

See All Sweet Potatoes Varieties

Popular Southern California Vegetables

In Southern California, where the climate is generally warm and conducive to a variety of plants, the top 10 vegetables to grow can include:

Bell Peppers: Sweet, colorful, and enjoy sunny conditions.
Bok Choy: Asian green, tender and mild flavor.
Broccoli: Cool-season crop, high in vitamins and fiber.
Carrots: Root vegetable, sweet and crunchy, prefers sandy soil.
Cauliflower: Requires consistent watering and care.
Cucumbers: Refreshing, great for salads, needs regular watering.
Green Beans: Easy to grow, both bush and pole varieties.
Kale: Hardy and nutritious, grows well in cool and warm weather.
Lettuce: Cool-season crop, grows quickly, ideal for salads.
Onions: Essential kitchen staple, can be grown year-round.
Peas: Cool-season crop, includes snow peas and snap peas.
Potatoes: Grown in cool weather, various types available.
Radishes: Quick to harvest, peppery flavor, easy to grow.
Scallions: Also known as green onions, mild onion flavor.
Spinach: Nutrient-rich, prefers cooler temperatures.
Squash: Includes both summer and winter varieties.
Sweet Corn: Requires space and sun, sweet and delicious.
Tomatoes: Versatile and flavorful, thrive in warm weather.
Yellow Squash: Mild flavor, similar to zucchini.
Zucchini: Fast-growing and productive summer squash.

These vegetables are well-suited to the region's unique growing conditions, which include mild winters and long, warm summers. It's always a good idea to consider the specific microclimate of your garden and adjust your planting choices accordingly.

Popular Southern California Flowers

Southern California's climate is ideal for a variety of flowers, thanks to its warm temperatures and ample sunshine. Here are the top 10 flowers that thrive in this region:

California Poppy: The state flower, known for its vibrant orange color, thrives in the sunny climate.
Lavender: Drought-tolerant and fragrant, it is a great choice for Southern California gardens.
Bougainvillea: A hardy vine with colorful blooms, perfect for warm climates.
Bird of Paradise: Known for its exotic, bird-like flowers, it loves the warm weather.
Geraniums: Easy to grow and maintain, they offer bright splashes of color.
Jasmine: A fragrant, climbing plant that grows well in warmer areas.
Marigolds: Hardy and colorful, they can bloom year-round in mild climates.
Roses: Many varieties do well in Southern California, especially when given full sun.
Succulents and Cacti: Including Aloe Vera and Echeveria, they are ideal for the dry climate.
Sunflowers: Thrive in full sun and add a dramatic height and vibrancy to gardens.

These flowers not only add beauty to gardens but are also generally well-adapted to the local conditions, making them easier to grow and maintain.