In addition to being gratifying, growing your own sweet potatoes is a wonderful way to supplement your diet with scrumptious and nourishing foods. What’s the best thing, then? To achieve it, you don’t need a large garden or ideal soil. Even novices can produce sweet potatoes effectively at home with the use of soil bags. You will be able to easily enjoy your very own homegrown sweet potatoes by following this detailed tutorial, which will take you step-by-step through the entire procedure.
Starting Out: Required SuppliesPrior to starting, collect the following:
bags for soil (or big grow bags)superior potting soil or a blend of garden soil and compostA garden hose or watering can equipped with a soft spray nozzle
Fertilizer appropriate for crops with roots
Hand spade or garden trowel
Trellises or stakes (optional)
Mulch (leaves or straw)
Step 1: Selecting the Proper LocationLocate a bright area in your garden that gets six to eight hours of sunlight per day. Since sweet potatoes dislike having their feet wet, it’s critical to maintain proper drainage to avoid waterlogging.
Step 2: Get the Soil Bags ReadyUse premium potting mix in your grow bags or commercial soil bags, making sure to leave a few inches of room at the top. As an alternative, you can mix equal parts compost and garden soil to make your own mixture. Keep in mind that sweet potatoes prefer loose, well-draining soil.
Planting the Sweet Potato Slips in Step ThreeArrange the sweet potato slips in the soil bags so that they are 12–18 inches apart and 4–6 inches deep. Each slip should be positioned upright, with the leafy portion above the soil’s surface and the roots pointing downward.
Step 4: Give the Sweet Potatoes Some WaterWater the soil frequently to maintain a constant moisture level. Watering in the morning minimizes the risk of fungal illnesses by letting the leaves dry over the day.
Fertilization is Step Five.As directed on the container, fertilize your sweet potatoes with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. After planting, apply the fertilizer a few weeks later, and then again during the growing season. Take care not to fertilize too much since this can result in smaller tubers and an excessive amount of foliage growth.
Step 6: Trellising and Support (Optional)Use trellises or posts to encourage larger sweet potatoes if you have a small garden space. Gently support the vines as they develop to facilitate harvesting in the future.
Step 7: GraspingAdd a layer of mulch around your sweet potato plants to help them retain moisture and to prevent weed growth. Mulch can be made effectively with black plastic, leaves, or straw. To avoid rot, just make sure the mulch stays away from the stems.
Step 8: GatheringDepending on the species and growing circumstances, sweet potatoes are often ready for harvesting 100–120 days after planting. To find the tubers, carefully excavate the area surrounding the plant’s base. Be cautious not to harm them in the process.
Step 9: Storage and CuringOnce harvested, let your sweet potatoes cure in a warm, humid place (80–90°F; 27–32°C) for around 10–14 days. This will improve the taste and mend any small wounds. After curing, store
No matter how big or poor the soil is in your garden, you may grow sweet potatoes with soil bags. You might soon be savoring the flavor of your very own homegrown produce if you adhere to our comprehensive instructions and provide your sweet potatoes with the attention they require. Cheers to your successful gardening!