Sweet potato planting technology and management methods

The growth cycle of sweet potato can be divided into two stages. The early stage is dominated by the growth of potato vines, while the middle and late stages are the critical period for the formation and expansion of potato tubers. In the early days, sweet potatoes mainly expand their growth range by extending their vines to absorb more sunlight and nutrients, so they cannot be ignored. Let’s learn about the planting techniques and management methods of sweet potatoes.

1. Soil selection

Sweet potatoes have specific preferences for soil texture. Sandy soil is the best growing environment for sweet potatoes because in such soil, the surface of the sweet potatoes is smoother, the tubers are larger, more starch and sugar accumulate, and the taste is better. In contrast, sweet potatoes grown in clay soil have a less smooth surface, smaller tubers, lower starch and sugar content, and a poorer taste. Therefore, sandy loam is the first choice for growing sweet potatoes.

2. Seedling treatment

Sweet potato seedlings should be properly treated before transplanting. Cut off part of the roots and retain about half of the root system. This will help reduce the carriage of pathogens and promote the germination of new roots, which is beneficial to the growth of seedlings and the formation of tubers.

3. Fertilization and transplanting

Sweet potatoes prefer organic fertilizers , especially poultry manure and cake fertilizer. The addition of wood ash can further enhance the fertilizer efficiency. When transplanting, you should first dig trenches and apply base fertilizer, then build ridges with a height of about 20 cm. When transplanting seedlings, insert them obliquely into the soil, with the insertion depth being about two-thirds of the seedling. If cooked soybeans are used as auxiliary fertilizer , it can further promote the growth of sweet potatoes and improve the taste.

4. Field Management

Sweet potatoes require careful management during their growth period, including timely top dressing, vine lifting and soil cultivation. Loosen the soil and weed before covering the ridges with potato vines to keep the soil loose. When the potato vines are about to cover the ridges, add soil and lift the vines regularly to prevent them from taking root in the soil. During the tuber expansion period, top dressing should be combined with watering. Use bean cake water, chicken manure water or a mixed solution of urea and potassium dihydrogen phosphate to irrigate the roots to promote the growth of tubers.

5. Foliar Fertilization

During the tuber bulking period, foliar spraying can increase yield and improve taste. Use a mixed solution of glucose and potassium dihydrogen phosphate for foliar spraying, with an interval of 7-10 days, for a total of two sprayings. The sweet potatoes treated in this way not only have a high yield but also taste better.

In summary, fertilization and management are the key to the success of sweet potato cultivation. Reasonable fertilization and timely management measures can ensure high yield and good quality of sweet potatoes.