Which month is best for transplanting sweet potato seedlings?

The stems and vines of sweet potato seedlings have extremely strong regeneration ability, so propagation by cuttings is one of the main ways to grow seedlings. Proper cutting operation can greatly improve the survival rate of sweet potato seedlings. So which month is the best for cutting sweet potato seedlings? Let’s learn more about it below.

Which month is best for transplanting sweet potato seedlings?

The best time for cutting sweet potato seedlings is usually in spring, approximately from March to May each year. At this time, the temperature gradually warms up, which is conducive to the rooting and growth of sweet potato seedlings. However, the specific time needs to be adjusted appropriately according to local climatic conditions to ensure that the night temperature is stable above 10℃ before cutting.

How to propagate sweet potato seedlings?

1. Seedling selection

Choose strong, disease- and insect-free sweet potato vines as cuttings, preferably the top part with vigorous growth and short internodes.

2. Cut the cuttings

Each cutting should retain 2-3 nodes, with a length of about 15-20 cm. The upper end should be cut flat about 2 cm away from the bud eye, and the lower end should be cut obliquely to increase the water absorption area.

3. Cuttings processing

You can soak the base of the cut cuttings in rooting water for several hours, or apply rooting powder to the base of the cuttings to promote rapid rooting.

4. Soil conditions

Choose sandy land with loose soil and good drainage, apply sufficient base fertilizer, deep plowing and leveling, and plant on high ridges.

5. Cutting method

(1) Direct insertion method: Insert 3-4 seedlings with a length of about 17-20 cm into the soil vertically to a depth of about 10 cm, leaving 1-2 nodes outside the soil.

(2) Vine pressing method: Press all the topped sweet potato seedlings into the soil so that the leaves are exposed above the ground. After planting, compact the soil and then water.

(3) Oblique planting method: Select seedlings about 20-25 cm long and plant them obliquely into the soil. Since there are more nodes in the soil, this planting method can produce more tubers.

(4) Flat planting method: Select seedlings about 20-30 cm long, dig a shallow trench under the ridge surface, and place the seedlings flat in the shallow soil layer 10 cm deep from the ridge surface, with the tips of the seedlings exposed above the ground.

Generally speaking, it is best to propagate sweet potato seedlings in spring. In the specific operation, healthy, disease-free sweet potato seedlings should be selected for cuttings, and the cutting method should be adjusted according to local climate conditions and soil conditions to improve the survival rate and promote the healthy growth of sweet potato seedlings.