Re: sweet potatoes/OT
- Subject: Re: sweet potatoes/OT
- From: J* B*
- Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 13:50:20 +0300
Angela Hi
Well I too am impatient to know what is going on under the soil, and as I
grow Sweet Potatoes the following may help you.
Sweet Potatoes do not start to form tubers until the days are shorter than
12 hours. Here in Crete that happens in September. When that point arrives I
continue to water and feed them until we get really bad weather - i.e.
torrential rain for two or three days(usually November) then I dig them, lay
them on the surface in the sun for a couple of days (this ripens the skins
and helps with their keeping qualities) then store them in a shady, dry
place where they last the winter through.
Following that you can keep some tubers overwinter to make your own slips
next season. When the weather warms up in the spring (maybe a night temp
above 10/12) I put them in some damp sandy soil and wait until green shoots
appear. Cut them in 4" lengths ( the tip being the best if you have enough
shoots) root them in a glass of water and off you go again.
Oh and if you are REALLY impatient you can 'piggle' hmmm that's a peculiarly
English word. Sort of scrabble about gently at the base of each plant and
feel around to see what's happening. I do this quite often with Potatoes as
well. shows an imatient personality maybe, but it's how I am.
Good luck regards from Crete
Janet B
----- Original Message -----
From: LEE,ANGELA IUE-CHIH <angelale@ucla.edu>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 8:12 PM
Subject: sweet potatoes/OT
> Hi,
>
> This isn't a mediterranean plant question but I am hoping someone on this
> list will have an answer. People can answer me personally if they
> consider this inappropriate for this list.
>
> How do I find out whether I have sweet potatoes without digging up the
> entire plant? I planted two slips of okinawan purple sweet potato and the
> plants are looking very lush and bushy. But now what? Every year, I
> plant a new vegetable just to learn how it grows so I wouldn't be
> heartbroken if I had to dig up one of my two plants just to see if
> anything is growing underground but still, it would be rather nice to
> harvest something.
>
>
> Thanks for any suggestions
> Angela Lee
>
>
