Although they’re much like yams and customary potatoes in each look and use, candy potatoes are literally a member of the morning glory household. This distinctive orange (and typically white, yellow, or purple) tuberous root subsequently has distinct taste properties and rising necessities.
Candy potatoes should not grown from seed however from slips, that are shoots sprouting from the candy potato itself. These slips are typically obtainable for buy at your native nursery or on-line gardening retailer. When you’ve acquired your slips and gardening provides useful, learn on to discover ways to develop candy potatoes in your house backyard!
When to Plant Candy Potato Slips
Earlier than you bounce into planting your slips, you’ll want to take into account the timing. As a tropical plant, candy potatoes usually require 4 months of heat local weather and soil. In case your local weather doesn’t have at the very least 4 months of air temperatures between 65°F and 95°F, think about using a short-season varietal. Typically, three to 4 weeks after the final frost within the spring, or when the soil reaches 65°F, is an effective time to start out.
The place to Plant Candy Potatoes
Upon getting an concept of when to plant your candy potato slips, you’ll be able to start to arrange the planting website. Select an area in your backyard with full solar or some partial afternoon shade. Sadly, in case your soil is clay or rocky, the potatoes might prove stunted. To counteract this, you could have to buy some soil that’s loamy, sandy, and acidic. Simply watch out for soil or compost merchandise containing an excessive amount of nitrogen, which promote the expansion of leafy greens, versus plump roots. A 5-10-10 fertilizer is right. Along with your planting location all set, go forward and construct your rows. The raised rows needs to be 8 inches excessive and spaced about 3 to 4 ft aside.
Planting Candy Potatoes
Along with your rising website ready, you’re prepared to start out planting! Plant your candy potato slips into mounds about 3 ft aside. To offer you an concept of how a lot to plant, keep in mind that one 10-foot row will usually produce about 10 kilos of potatoes. Ensure to cowl the roots and stem with soil and compost however not the leaves. Don’t overlook to make use of row covers after planting for those who dwell in a colder, northern local weather or can anticipate extra late-night frosts to come back. Final however not least, give them loads of high-phosphorus liquid fertilizer and water them rigorously for the next week to assist them settle.
Rising Candy Potato Crops
As soon as they’re settled into their rising location, candy potatoes gained’t require as a lot water as that first week. Nonetheless, give them at the very least one inch of water per week, particularly in the course of the hottest days of the summer time. Loads of water throughout this peak warmth section will enhance the crops’ output. As soon as they’re about 4 weeks from maturity, again off on the watering. An excessive amount of over the past month of progress could cause the tuberous root to separate, creating points for storage afterward.
Proceed utilizing liquid fertilizer in the course of the rising interval, however keep in mind that many fertilizers encourage leaf progress somewhat than root progress. Steer away from nitrogen-rich fertilizers and go for high-phosphorous ones as a substitute. Be happy so as to add extra 5-10-10 fertilizer, sandy soil, and compost.
About two weeks after planting, begin weeding your rows repeatedly, however watch out to not disturb the tender candy potato roots. As well as, don’t prune your candy potato crops, because the leaves are necessary for root progress. After about 90 to 120 days, your candy potatoes can be mature and prepared for harvest!
Harvesting Candy Potatoes
Round that 3-4 month mark – or on the newest, earlier than the primary frost of autumn – you can begin harvesting your candy potatoes. You’ll be able to inform when they’re prepared for harvest when the tubers are giant sufficient to eat or when the leaves and vines start yellowing. Examine on the candy potato tubers by gently loosening and eradicating soil across the base of the stem.
Be happy to chop away vines which are in your manner. Nonetheless, preserve many of the leaves connected so the plant can proceed rising all through the summer time and fall seasons. Simply watch out to snip the roots or the crown solely when you’re positive the plant is prepared for harvest.
Gently pull the plant up by the crown (the place the stem meets the basis), and use your palms to dig out the basis. It’s possible you’ll discover as many as 5 or extra candy potatoes in a single plant. Deal with the potatoes with care, as they’re susceptible to bruising and scratching; tears within the potato pores and skin may end up in early spoilage. Brush or shake off the dust, however wait to clean the potatoes till you might be prepared to make use of them.
Storing Candy Potatoes
Now that you just’ve acquired your basket filled with candy potatoes, you’ll need to discover ways to remedy them in order that they’ll preserve correctly. First, allow them to sit within the solar for a number of hours to permit any extra moisture to evaporate. After this, lay them out with area between every for 10 to fifteen days in a spot with an air temperature of at the very least 80°F and 90% humidity. As soon as they’re cured through this technique, you’ll be able to retailer them for as much as 6 months in your basement or one other shady space with a humidity stage of 60%.
In Conclusion
Candy potatoes are a preferred Southern root crop and have confirmed helpful within the kitchen in some ways. They will create a scrumptious aspect dish, a comforting complement to a predominant course, or perhaps a marshmallow-topped dessert. You’ll be able to boil them right into a soup, bake them into bread, use them in casseroles, or reduce them into fries. Candy potatoes are additionally extremely nutritious, with loads of minerals, nutritional vitamins, and antioxidants to go ’spherical.
As for his or her position within the backyard, they provide enticing foliage and loads of floor cowl as an additional benefit. Whereas the rising course of could appear intimidating initially, anybody can do it efficiently by following a number of easy steps. With the right care and a spotlight, your candy potato crops will make a wonderful addition each to your house backyard and your home-cooked meals!
