Sweet potatoes are not only delicious
but also incredibly nutritious. They can be a great addition to your home
garden. If you have a small space at home, you can grow sweet potatoes in
containers and enjoy a good harvest. Today, in this article, I will share how to grow sweet potatoes in containers
indoors step-by-step. You can follow my step-by-step instructions to grow sweet
potatoes in containers if you are a beginner.
Growing Sweet Potatoes Easily: A Complete Beginner’sGuide
Sweet potatoes are very beneficial. You can grow these beneficial potatoes outdoors. Again you can grow them in containers indoors. Now learn how to grow sweet potatoes in containers indoors.
How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in Containers
Step-by-Step Guide
Choosing the Right Container
To grow sweet potatoes, first, select
the right container. Now see what type of container you should
select:
- Size
Matters:
The best container for growing sweet potatoes indoors is a 12-20-inch
container.
- Material: After selecting
the container size, you have to select the material. For this, you can
choose clay pots, plastic buckets and drums, gunny bags etc.
- Drainage: By selecting
the size and material of the container, you will set the drainage of the
container. For this, you will make two holes in the bottom of the
container. Then put two pieces of brick on the two holes. Then put one
inch of pebbles and one inch of white sand on them. Your container's
drainage setting is complete.
Preparing the Soil
Sweet potatoes grow well in
well-draining and fertile soil.
- Soil
Mix:
Mix sandy loam, compost and potting soil.
- pH
Levels:
Maintain a slightly acidic to neutral pH range (5.5–7).
Planting Sweet Potato Slips
Sweet potatoes are grown from slips
which are sprouts from mature sweet potatoes.
- Make
the Slips:
Submerge half a sweet potato in water and keep the other half exposed.
Place it in sunlight for 2-4 weeks until sprouts appear. When the sprouts
are 6-8 inches, gently remove them and place them in water for root growth.
- Planting Sprouts: Fill the container with prepared soil leaving 2 inches of space above the container. Then plant one sprout in each container 4 inches deep.
Care Tips for Healthy Growth
- Watering: Sweet potatoes
grow well in moist soil. So, water deeply once or twice a week,
especially during dry spells.
- Providing
Proper Lighting:
Place them in a place that gets 6-8 hours of direct sunlight every day.
If you lack sunlight, use grow lights.
- Fertilizing: Apply a
balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. Avoid excessive nitrogen
fertilization because it can cause leaf drop. It also reduces tuber
growth.
Controlling Insects and Diseases
- Insects: Insects such as
aphids, flea beetles and wireworms attack sweet potatoes. Use neem oil or
insecticidal soap to control them.
- Diseases: Reduce water to
control sweet potato disease. And spray fungicides to prevent fungal
problems and root rot.
Harvesting Sweet Potatoes
Usually, sweet potatoes are ready to
harvest 90-120 days after planting.
- Maturity
Symptoms:
When sweet potatoes mature, their leaves turn yellow and vines die. Harvesting
Procedure: Dig the container soil gently so as not to damage the tubers.
- Cure
for Storage:
Keep harvested sweet potatoes in a warm and moist place for 7-10 days. Then
store these potatoes.
FAQ
1. Can I grow sweet potatoes indoors?
Yes, you can grow sweet potatoes indoors
if your home has enough sunlight.
2. What fertilizer is best for sweet potatoes?
Use a fertilizer for sweet potatoes that
is low in nitrogen and high in potassium and phosphorus.
3. How often should sweet potatoes be watered?
Sweet potatoes should be watered in the
container when the topsoil of the container is dry and white.
4. Can I reuse the soil from my sweet potato pot?
It is better not to reuse the same soil
for sweet potatoes to prevent disease growth.
5. How many sweet potatoes can I expect per container?
Mainly, it depends on the size of the container. However, you can expect 2-5 pounds of sweet potatoes per plant.
Finally, growing sweet potatoes in containers is a wonderful way to enjoy fresh potatoes. You can grow them even if you have limited space in your garden. And, after growing them, you can get good yield with proper care. However, this article has given you a better idea of how to grow sweet potatoes in containers. Now follow the instructions in the article, grow sweet potatoes and enjoy toxin-free fresh sweet potatoes from your garden.
Are you ready to grow sweet potatoes in containers indoors? If you have any other problems, share them in the comments.
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