Sweet Potato
Ipomoea batatas
Tropical tuber grown from slips in warm climates. In Central Europe, start indoors early and use black mulch to warm the soil.
Overview
Companion Planting
Thyme
Oregano
MarigoldToxicity
ASPCA lists Ipomoea batatas as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses; tubers are edible for humans when cooked.
Planting Tips
1 cm of water per m² equals 10 liters. Use the Watering Calculator for exact amounts.
Care Tip: Plant in raised rows or mounded beds 20-25 cm tall for good drainage; cure harvested tubers at 27-30 °C and high humidity for 7-10 days before storage.
Common Pests
Sweet Potato Weevil
Symptoms: Larvae tunnel through tubers, causing them to become spongy, black, and bitter-tasting with an unpleasant terpene odor.
Treatment: Remove and destroy all infested tubers and plant debris; apply insecticidal treatments targeting adults before they lay eggs.
Prevention: Use certified pest-free slips, practice crop rotation of at least 3 years, and avoid planting near previously infested fields.
Flea Beetle
Symptoms: Adults chew small shot-hole patterns in leaves; larvae create shallow winding tunnels on tuber surfaces, scarring the skin.
Treatment: Apply neem oil or pyrethrin-based sprays to foliage when beetle populations are high; hand-pick adults in small plantings.
Prevention: Use floating row covers on newly transplanted slips for the first 4 weeks; rotate planting areas annually to break pest cycles.
Whitefly
Symptoms: Clouds of tiny white insects lift from leaf undersides when disturbed; heavy infestations cause leaf yellowing, stunted growth, and sticky honeydew on foliage.
Treatment: Spray insecticidal soap or neem oil on leaf undersides; introduce natural predators such as ladybugs and lacewings.
Prevention: Monitor plants regularly, remove heavily infested leaves, and avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization which promotes tender growth attractive to whiteflies.
Common Diseases
Fusarium Wilt
Symptoms: Leaves yellow, dull, and wilt progressively from the base upward; vascular tissue inside stems shows brown discoloration.
Treatment: No chemical cure; remove and destroy infected plants immediately to prevent spread.
Prevention: Use disease-free certified slips, rotate crops on a 3-4 year cycle, and select resistant varieties such as 'Beauregard' or 'Vardaman'.
Soft Rot
Symptoms: Tubers develop water-soaked, mushy areas that collapse and emit a foul odor; caused by Rhizopus stolonifer fungus during storage.
Treatment: Discard all affected tubers; do not store damaged or bruised roots as wounds invite infection.
Prevention: Cure tubers promptly after harvest at 27-30 °C with 85-90% humidity for 7-10 days; handle carefully to avoid skin wounds during harvest.
Black Rot
Symptoms: Firm, dark brown to black circular lesions appear on tubers; infected tissue has a bitter taste and distinctive off-flavor.
Treatment: Remove and destroy all infected tubers and plant material; do not compost affected plants.
Prevention: Use only certified disease-free slips, sanitize tools and storage containers, and avoid planting in fields with a history of black rot for at least 3 years.