John - you're correct about the squash vines - I let them go in whatever direction they're headed (actually I grow melons/cucumbers, not squash - same family)
SWEETIES UNDER STRAW/LEAVES #1
Honeybee, I do remember your Bermuda battle! I have the same problem here. Maybe I need to just plant sweeties all over my yard until the Bermuda is wiped out - lol.
John, these vines are tough. I walked on mine and all kinds of stuff and they just kept chuggin' along.
Oh - I heard the thing about the leaves being edible as well. Will have to look into that a bit more as they sure do produce LOTS of leaves.
locakelly - I have had the same thought
Quoting:
just plant sweeties all over my yard until the Bermuda is wiped out
Do you eat the leaves raw, or cooked?
A couple of links regarding cooking and eating the leaves...
http://theslowcook.blogspot.com/2008/09/sweet-potato-leaves.html
http://marcsala.blogspot.com/2006/06/unusual-greens-part-3.html
Good to know! I want to try them!
Should I use the younger leaves? Or are any of the leaves good? I have been tempted to nibble a leaf when I check the vines' progress each morning, but they still have too few to share.
On one of those links, it said younger leaves are best. Let us know what you think. I bought a can of coconut milk last fall to make up one of the recipes....but...but...I'm not quite that adventurous. LOL!
Then, at least, drink the coconut milk!
I like chicken breasts cooked in coconut milk!
Linda, those slips are ready for you if you want to come get them this weekend. Two are rooted, the rest are not. :) LMK
Why do I have to JOIN every website I visit just to read the articles....sheesh....
Gymgirl - I don't join them - sooner or later the same "news" appears eleswhere.
I join because it costs money and time to run the site. $20 per year doesn't seem much for the amount of information on DG.
The Global potatoe site is Free there are things on it you will never read at other sites
Actually,
I've been trying to send Dave some money because I feel like I owe him waaaaaaaaaaay more than $20 for all I've learned here!
dlbailey - You are so right, DG is well worth the $20 per year for all the information and friendship here. It's the only gardening site I subscribe to.
Me too!
Dave is gone he has a new Site
Can I grow sweeties in a 20 gallon SmartPot? If so, how many slips can go in the container?
One Slip
I agree with Paul Linda... The potatoes will grow down a ways from the surface, but they grow horizontally from the main root...
Here are my Vardaman's (6), which were planted Sunday evening. I built a "bed on top of a bed", but I had the spare lumber on hand and it was quick and I am cheap. It's not pretty but it is about 12" high and it should suffice. The bed is 4' x 10' x 8", but the addition is 4' x 2' x 4"...I had six slips and I spaced them at least 12". They will receive partial sun. I pulled all of my lettuce to accommodate the sweet potatoes, plus the okra I plan on growing.
Very nice, John!
Way to recycle, too!
Thanks...I agree- waste not want not.
Any One Ever Eat The Sweet tater Leaves? I DO There Great In a Salad Or Steamed Like Spinach. Use The Small Tender Leaves. Do Not Eat And Morning Glory Leaves Except For The Water Type Ones . Or any Of The Ornametal Sweet Tater ones Paul
John, it's very attractive looking and should do the job perfectly for you.
Looks good John - 12" should be adequate depth. The taters grow sort of horizontally from the main root.
Paul - I have never eaten the leaves but heard that they are edible. As many as I remember I had last year I should have plenty this year to try them!
Do I need some sort of trellis for this particular set-up? I bought this sweet potato variety becasue it was a bush plant but still...not sure what to expect as this is my first time growing sweets.
I think even the bush plants will try and take over your area - lol... I don't trellis mine though you certainly could. I just let the vines run where they want and train them out of places I don't want them.
Okay, Kelly, all this talk about taters and I never got my sweeties planted. Is it too late for us here in the Phx area?
cut the vine back on the bush type after a bit it will stop[ trailing
Paul, great tip! Thanks for posting it.
Crista - plant them now. They love our heat. Just make sure to plant them in the evening after the sun goes down to minimize transplant shock. We are supposed to be cooling down into the low 90s by the end of the week so good time to plant them! They should be ready to harvest sometime in October...
Whooee! Thanks!
Apparently, squirrels also like to eat sweet potato leaves. *expletive*
They chewed the leaves off of one plant and ate some from the other 5 plants. I put cayenne pepper around the bed so maybe that will deter them for now.
Does anyone know if sweet potato slips will recover after they have been planted and had all foliage chewed off??
Luckily there is a vendor at the local farmer's market that has the same type of sweet potato that I am growing, so I can replace these slips if I need.
I planted two sprouted tubers recently that were almost immediately eaten by some animals. The plants recovered very quickly. Your's probably will come back if they are well rooted.
John,
What' cha growing?