Sweet potato growing environment and local conditions

Sweet potato growth environment and conditions

Sweet potatoes were originally distributed in South America and the Greater and Lesser Antilles. They are widely cultivated mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, and are commonly cultivated in most areas of northern and southern China.

Sweet potato growing conditions

Sweet potatoes prefer a warm environment, are not cold-resistant, have strong adaptability to the soil, and are resistant to acid and alkali. They are suitable for planting in areas with deep soil, loose soil, good soil quality, strong irrigation and drainage capabilities, and a pH value between 4.2-8.3.

Sweet potato growth temperature

The suitable growth temperature of sweet potato is between 22-30 degrees. If the temperature is lower than 15 degrees, the growth will stop. The plant has different temperature requirements in different periods. The temperature during the germination period is best at 18-22 degrees, the temperature during the seedling stage is 22-25 degrees, the stem and leaf stage should be 22-30 degrees, the temperature during the stem and leaf stage should not be lower than 16 degrees, and the temperature during the root tuber stage should be 22-25 degrees.

Sweet potato growth process

The growth process of sweet potatoes takes 4 months and can be roughly divided into four periods. From the planting of potato seedlings to the growth of small seedlings, it is the rooting and seedling stage. The stems and tubers continue to grow, the leaves and trees increase, the adventitious roots differentiate to form small tubers and branch and form tubers in time. After that, the stems and leaves grow rapidly, and the underground tubers increase in size, which is called the tuber vine growth period. The stems and leaves decay, the tubers swell, and enter the tuber prosperity period.

Sweet potato planting time and method

1. Sweet potatoes are drought-resistant but not cold-resistant, so it is recommended to start planting them in mid-to-late March. However, if the local temperature is relatively low, then they should be planted in April. The weather in March in general areas is most suitable for crop growth. At this time, sweet potatoes can grow out of the ground in about half a month.

2. Before planting, be sure to choose high-quality potato seeds and soak them in the solution for more than 10 minutes to prevent diseases and insect damage.