How to plant sweet potato seedlings

The planting depth of sweet potato seedlings has always been a controversial topic. Some people believe that deep planting is more conducive to the growth of sweet potatoes, while others believe that shallow planting can promote the enlargement of tubers. Let’s learn how to plant sweet potato seedlings.

1. When to buy

Don't buy sweet potato seedlings too early. It is best to purchase the seedlings on the day you plan to plant or the day before to ensure the freshness and survival rate of the seedlings. Buying too early may cause the seedlings to become dehydrated and affect their growth.

2. Seedling soaking treatment

Before planting, it is recommended to soak the sweet potato seedlings. Using 1000-1500 times diluted 25% carbendazim wettable powder can prevent diseases such as black spot and scab. A 100-300 times dilution of 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate can help prevent stem nematode disease. A 0.2 mg/L solution of brassinolide can promote rooting and seedling growth. When soaking the seedlings, just place the roots in the solution and soak for about 10 minutes.

3. Planting method

Common planting methods include oblique planting and flat planting. The oblique insertion method is to insert the sweet potato seedlings obliquely into the soil, while the flat planting method is to place the seedlings flat in the soil, retaining only the upper two nodes or so. The flat planting method is considered more conducive to high yields because it allows more internodes to be buried in the soil, increasing the number of sweet potatoes.

4. Planting depth

Regardless of the planting method used, avoid planting too deeply. The recommended planting depth is about 4-5cm, leaving 2-3 nodes outside the soil and about 3-4 leaves. This can not only ensure sufficient growth points, but also reduce excessive water consumption.

5. Soil covering and compaction

After planting, the covering soil should be level with the ground and should be appropriately pressed but not compacted to avoid affecting the respiration and survival rate of the sweet potato seedlings.

6. Watering

Water the plants promptly after planting, especially during the hot summer months when soil moisture evaporates quickly. Watering should be done in moderation to ensure that moisture can penetrate into the soil and avoid waterlogging.

7. Use wood ash

For small-scale planting, you can sprinkle some wood ash next to each sweet potato seedling. Wood ash is rich in potassium and phosphorus, and can also kill bacteria, which helps to improve the survival rate and yield of sweet potato seedlings.

In short, the above steps and techniques can promote early rooting, rapid seedling growth and high survival rate of sweet potato seedlings. I hope these suggestions can help you achieve better results when growing sweet potatoes.