How do you folks plant them?? I've been reading about them and they seem to require alot of planning and work. Should I buy started plants or "seed" potatoes? I used to hate them when I was a kid, but now Harry and I eat them at least once a week so we'd like to try one of the short season varieties here. Any suggestions would be muchly appreciated :-)!! Thanx!

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2004

Answers

I tried sweet potatoes a couple of times and failed both times, so I gave up and decided we are not a good climate for them. I love 'em too, but don't always think to buy em. Kinda high in carbs anyway, so I save em for special occassions. Very nutritous, ya know; some tribe in south america reportedly eats ONLY sweet potatoes, although they have several different variations. Now that would be sickening I think.

-- Anonymous, March 07, 2004

I just go to the store and find them already grown! Just cook, peel, and eat. I doubt that I could get one to grow up here in this wet climate. Still, I sure love 'em.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2004

Hmmm, Sheepish. Why didn't I think of that :-)??!! Judging by what I've been reading about them, that might just be a heck of alot easier! Harry wants to try this new short season variety called Georgia Jet. Supposed to grow quite well...even waaayyy up here in the north country! Guess we'll find out....!!

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2004

Marcia, here's what we do. We deep plow the area where we plan to plant them; then till the soil to loosen it up. I buy plants at the nursery. We plant them deep, water them well, and hill the soil up around them as they grow, weeding as we go. We keep them well watered during the dry days of July and August. They grow luxuriantly and cover the mounds with vines. At the frost, we go out to dig them and find a few scrawny roots. We go to the store and buy sweet potatoes.

Hope springs eternal. This year, I think I'll try them in a stacked raised bed.

We like them baked (nuked) and topped with a bit of butter, then sprinkled with brown sugar. Or baked, peeled and mashed with the butter and brown sugar. Goes real good with pork.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2004

What a coincidence, Polly; that's exactly the way we grew 'em!!

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2004

Okay, okay....I can feel one of my legs getting longer and longer!!! Are you folks pulling it :-)??? I get the picture. I should just go to the store and buy them!! Just to warn you all though...if we happen to harvest even ONE good-sized sweet potato I'm going to figure out a way to post a picture of it here...okay?

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2004