How many times a year are Qiaotou sweet potatoes harvested?

Qiaotou sweet potato is a famous specialty of Qiaotou Town, Chengmai County, Hainan Province. This variety is famous for its hard and crispy texture, paper-thin skin, high sweetness and good taste. It is also rich in nutritional value and is known as "longevity food". So how many times a year are Qiaotou sweet potatoes harvested? Let’s learn more about it below.

How many times a year are Qiaotou sweet potatoes harvested?

Qiaotou sweet potatoes are planted twice a year, so they can be harvested twice a year. Specifically, sweet potatoes planted around the Mid-Autumn Festival can be put on the market by the end of the year; and sweet potatoes planted at the end of the year can be harvested and put on the market in March or April of the following year.

How to plant Qiaotou sweet potato?

1. Site selection and land preparation

Choose soft, dark brown soil that is rich in selenium and contains fine gravel. The land must be fully plowed when it is prepared, using two plows and two harrows or one plow and two harrows, with a plowing depth of 25-30 cm. Each plowing or harrowing should be separated by 7-10 days to fully bleach the soil and make it deep, loose, fine and flat.

2. Fertilize before sowing

In order to ensure the growth of Qiaotou sweet potato, it is necessary to apply an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer or compound fertilizer before sowing to provide sufficient nutrients. You can choose decomposed organic fertilizer, chicken manure, cow dung, etc. for fertilization.

3. Reasonable seedling selection

Choose virus-free seedlings that are free of pests and diseases and 5 to 6 nodes long.

4. Planting tips

Cut the Qiaotou sweet potatoes into pieces of about 4-5 cm, then spread them evenly on the land after tillage, and then lightly cover them with a layer of soil. After sowing, be sure to keep the soil moist.

5. Planting density

The planting density per acre ranges from 3,500 to 4,500 plants, and the seedlings need to be about 13 cm apart.

5. Field management

Weeding: Weed regularly to reduce the impact of weeds on sweet potato growth. When weeding, avoid damaging the sweet potato roots and keep the depth at about 5 cm.

Watering: Sweet potatoes are relatively drought-resistant. Do not water them too much in the first few days of planting. Water them in appropriate amounts during drought periods. If there is autumn flooding, drain the water in time to prevent hardening and rot.

Top dressing: During the growth period, apply appropriate amounts of fertilizer in a timely manner according to the growth of the sweet potato to meet its growth needs. In the early stage, nitrogen fertilizer is mainly used to promote the growth of branches and leaves; in the later stage, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are mainly used to promote the expansion of sweet potato tubers. When applying fertilizer, avoid direct contact between the fertilizer and the sweet potato roots to avoid burns.

Generally speaking, Qiaotou sweet potatoes are harvested twice a year, and the specific harvest time depends on the planting time. In addition, you need to pay attention to the planting method and master the relevant technical points to grow Qiaotou sweet potatoes with excellent quality and great taste.