When is the best time to plant sweet potatoes?

Sweet potato, which is what we usually call sweet potato , is one of the staple foods and can be cooked in many ways. It can be steamed, baked, or coated with starch and fried. There are many places in my country where sweet potatoes are grown. Let’s learn together when is the best time to plant sweet potatoes?

When is the best time to plant sweet potatoes?

The best time to plant sweet potatoes is usually in the spring from April to May. Specifically, the planting time of spring sweet potatoes can be between April 25 and May 25, and the most suitable time is from May 5 to 15. The temperature during this period is generally stable at around 15-20℃, which is conducive to the rapid germination and growth of sweet potatoes. In the Yangtze River Basin, it is recommended to grow seedlings in a greenhouse first and then carry out cuttings after the spring cold.

In addition, the planting season for sweet potatoes is between March and April in spring, because the temperature during this period is generally above 20℃, which is suitable for the growth of sweet potato sprouts and new branches. Sweet potato seedlings need to be raised 2 months before transplanting, that is, spring potatoes should start raising seedlings in late January, autumn potatoes in mid-to-late June, and early winter potatoes in early to mid-August.

When planting sweet potatoes, choose healthy, disease-free seed potatoes and plant them early under suitable conditions. Ridge cultivation and reasonable density planting are also important measures to increase yield. During the planting process, attention should also be paid to timely water and fertilizer management to promote the healthy growth of sweet potatoes.

Sweet potato growing conditions

Temperature: Sweet potatoes are native to the tropics, prefer high temperatures, and are sensitive to low temperatures, especially frost. A frost-free period of at least 120 days is required during the growing period, and the temperature during the growing period should be maintained above 21°C. The most suitable growth temperature range is 15-30℃, with 25℃ being the most suitable temperature. Growth will slow down when the temperature exceeds 35℃, growth will stagnate when the temperature is below 15℃, and plants may die from frostbite when the temperature is below 10℃.

Water: Sweet potatoes have a high demand for water, and all their physiological activities require the participation of water. The soil needs to be kept slightly moist during the seedling period, and more water is needed after cuttings. The soil moisture content should be 60%-70%. Moderate drying is required in the middle and late stages to prevent the tubers from cracking and rotting.

Soil: Sweet potatoes are suitable for planting in deep, loose, well-drained soil, preferably sandy soil rich in organic matter. Soil permeability and drainage are crucial to the growth of sweet potatoes. Soil that is too compacted is not conducive to root respiration and tuber expansion.

Light: Sweet potatoes like light. Adequate sunlight helps photosynthesis and promotes nutrient accumulation.

The above is an introduction to the planting time and conditions of sweet potatoes. As long as the field management work is in place, high yields will be a problem when planting sweet potatoes.