Sweet potato

Profile

Family

Convolvulaceae

Habit

perennial

Height

3 m

Spread

3 m

Growth

very fast

Lifespan

5 years

First yield

after 1 year

Hardiness

zone 9–12

Shade tolerance

full sun

Soil

Sand, Silt

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very moist

pH

5 – 7

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Wurzel – gekocht. Süß und fleischig, ist sie ein köstliches Grundnahrungsmittel und zudem sehr nahrhaft und eine reiche Quelle an Vitaminen und Mineralstoffen. Es gibt Sorten mit weichem, feuchtem Fruchtfleisch und auch Formen mit trockenem Fruchtfleisch. Es gibt auch weniger süße Sorten, die für die industrielle Stärkeproduktion gezüchtet wurden. Damit die Wurzeln den Winter überstehen können, müssen sie etwa eine Woche lang bei Temperaturen um 25 °C in der Sonne getrocknet werden, bevor sie bei etwa 14 °C gelagert werden. Junge Triebspitzen.

Other uses: Agroforestry Use: Can serve as ground cover to prevent soil erosion, enhance soil structure, and suppress weeds. The vines also provide habitat for beneficial organisms. Landscaping: Alpine garden, arbor, container, ground cover, individual plant. The root is a source of starch. Sweet potato tubers are being investigated as a valuable resource for producing biofuel from alcohol. 1. Nectararium - Nectar- and pollen-rich flowers: Yes - Sweet potato vines produce attractive flowers that supply pollinators with nectar and pollen. 2. Wildlife - Food (fruits, seeds, leaf litter, shelter, nesting site, roosting place): Yes - The tubers (sweet potatoes) are a valuable food source for humans and animals. The leaves can also be consumed by herbivores. While the plant itself does not serve as a primary nesting site, its dense foliage can provide shelter and cover. 3. Protection for Invertebrates (overwintering sites, leaf litter, ground cover): Yes - The sprawling nature of the sweet potato vine can form ground cover, providing habitat for invertebrates and helping maintain soil moisture. Additionally, the leaf litter can offer protection. 4. Pest Confuser (odor): Yes - The aromatic leaves may act as pest repellents and confuse some pests, benefiting neighboring plants.

Growing

An easy-to-care-for plant, the sweet potato thrives in tropical regions but can also be grown as an annual crop in warmer parts of the temperate zone with a vegetation period of 110-170 days. It can grow at elevations of up to 2,800 meters in the tropics, preferring daytime temperatures between 18-28°C and tolerating a range of 10-38°C. The roots can withstand temperatures down to about 1°C when dormant, but young shoots can be killed at 5°C. It prefers an average annual rainfall of 750-2,000 mm but can tolerate extremes of 350-5,000 mm. Thriving in well-draining sandy loam soil and requiring a sunny location, it benefits from ample potassium in the soil for a good harvest. While it prefers a pH between 5 and 7, it can tolerate values between 4 and 8.7. Low humidity is advantageous once the plants are mature. In tropical regions, the plants grow vigorously and have become invasive in some areas. Unlike many root vegetables, sweet potatoes start storing starch at a young age, allowing for early harvesting. They efficiently convert solar energy into calories. In tropical areas, a harvest can mature within 2 months, but at least three months are needed in subtropical regions. Yields vary by variety and growing conditions, ranging from 17.5 to 27.5 tons per hectare optimally, with average yields in Africa at 5 tons, in South America at 10 tons, and in Asia at 16 tons. The highest global production yield of 80 tons was achieved in Israel. As a short-day plant, it requires less than 11 hours of sunlight to initiate flowering, with minor effects on tuber production due to day length variations. Notable features include attractive, edible foliage. The sweet potato vine is self-pollinating, typically harvested in late summer to early autumn, around 90-120 days after planting, and blooms during that period. A fast-growing plant, the sweet potato vine often rapidly covers the ground, reaching full size within a few months.

Propagation

Soak the seeds in warm water for 12 hours or nick them before sowing in individual pots in the greenhouse in early spring. Seeds usually germinate after 1-3 weeks at 22°C. Plants are sensitive to root disturbances, even when small, and should be potted immediately after germination. Keep the plants in the greenhouse for at least the first winter and then plant them in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, at their final location. Seedlings can vary significantly and are likely less productive than vegetatively propagated plants. Stem cuttings are taken from terminal shoots. Remove the lower leaves and insert the cuttings halfway into individual pots.

Origin & habitat

Pantropical.

Dry open patches, especially on sandy areas near the sea.

Related plants