SWEET POTATO CULTIVATION

 Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Linn.) is a staple food and a well-known food in the Philippines. This provides steady income by both farmers and gardeners, since it grows all-year-round. Sweet potatoes can grow to a length of two or more meters and matures up to 4-7 months.

Land Preparation

Plow the field once if the field is sandy. If the soil is clay, plow it twice. Plowing is done 20 days before planting. Till the field to remove those weeds and pulverize the soil.  Furrows are laid out one meter apart. Allow 25 cm distance between furrows and mark it with a string. For every one meter length of the row, broadcast 2 tablespoons of 14-14-14 plus one milk can of compost.

Planting

Vine cuttings of sweet potatoes are used in the propagation process in the Philippines. The length of cutting ranges from 30 to 45 cm.

Fertilizer Application

a.       Sandy Soil. 3 to 4 bags of ammophos plus 3 bags muriate of potash.

b.      Loamy Soil. 3 to 4 bags of ammophos(16-20-0) plus 3 bags muriate of potash in the furrow of planting time.

c.       Clay Soil. 3 to 4 bags of complete fertilizer (14-14-14) plus 3 bags muriate of potash or 3 to 4 bags of ammophos  (16-20-0) plus 3 bags muriate of potash.

The safest kind of fertilizer is organic fertilizers and should be added to the soil for the best result.

Weeding and Cultivation

Remove the weeds thoroughly and irrigate the field once a week, three weeks before harvesting.

CAUTION:

Do not harvest green-colored sweet potatoes because it is inedible and poisonous... 

Happy gardening!!!