Growing Sweet Potato, also Kumara

Ipomoea batatas : Convolvulaceae / the morning glory family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
P               P P P P

(Best months for growing Sweet Potato in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • P = Plant crowns
  • Plant shoots or cuttings (Slips). Best planted at soil temperatures between 17°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 40 - 60 cm apart
  • Harvest in 15-17 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best in Separate bed
  • New shoots on Kumara
  • Well grown Kumara

Sweet Potatoes require a long warm growing season. Plant in free draining loose soil. Fertilise before planting but no more when the plants are growing as it will encourage vine growth. They will go for miles and you will get no tubers. If they do start spreading, lift the vines off the ground to prevent them rooting.

Mound up the soil about 20 cm (8 in) before planting. Let the plants die down, (leaves die or turn yellow) before harvesting the tubers. Dry them in the sun for a few days. then store in a cool dry place for up to five months.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Sweet Potato

Use mashed, boiled, roasted, baked or fried. Or use in soups, pies, casseroles, curries and salads.

Your comments and tips

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17 Mar 11, Kim Davies (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I ate kumara everyday when visiting NZ and loved it! Because it was less sweet than USA sweet potatoes. I am craving it and need to find out how and if I can get seeds and grow it in Virginia? Would love your help on this!
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18 Nov 11, graham (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I would like to try to grow kumara potatoes in our green house as you say they need a long growing season. Can you advise me where I can buy tubers/seeds? Many thanks Graham
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26 Jun 18, timothy (USA - Zone 5b climate)
I get my slips from Pioneer Garden and Seed in Villa Park IL. I grew sweet potatoes for two summers with great harvests. I am not sure why they say 5b is not good for sweet potatoes.
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02 Jan 12, Lisa Baird (USA - Zone 6a climate)
I also long for NZ Kumara, and have been unable to find them in the states. Where can I order tubers for growing or for eating? I'll start a greenhouse if needed. Thank you.
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21 Mar 12, Malina Beatrice (USA - Zone 10a climate)
I found Kumara at Whole Foods in Encino, but they had them labeled "Japanese Sweet Potato." If I hadn't just seen them on a trip to NZ, I never would have known! Hope it helps.
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16 May 15, Carole Hanley (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I would like to grow these wonderful sweet potato here in Nevada. We ate them in New Zealand and they are beyond good.
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24 Mar 17, Bob (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Trying to find some Evangeline sweet potato slips. I've only been able to find commercial quantities. Any help appreciated
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24 Mar 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
'Evangeline' was developed at a horticultural research institute in Louisiana and has Intellectual Property Rights. This means that it could only be available to commercial growers who probably pay a royalty for the slips for their crops. You could try the Sweet Potato Research Station at: PO Box 120, Chase LA 71324. These restrictions seem onerous for home gardeners but help pay for the development costs for new varieties. Try them, they may be willing to send you a few slips.
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27 Dec 20, Rick (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Bob, I had the same problem so I ordered a couple of sweet potato's from Walmart. I tried to grow them on my counter to no avail. I went on YouTube and found out that stores buy potato's that have been sprayed to prevent sprouts. Best if you buy your potatoes from a farmers market. Wash them, then cut them in half. Plant the half's in a good compost and keep moist. You should see slips growing out of your potatoes in a few weeks. I found it time consuming but it works! Best of luck to you.
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12 Apr 18, Dale Westergard (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I live in Utah, USA. We grow most vegetables here, and potatoes do well. Where could we obtain some starts (slips), etc. to start growing kumara? I've been to NZ several times, enjoying everything about Aotearoa, especially, Kumara. Would appreciate any helps/suggestions. thank you. Dale Westergard.
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Showing 1 - 10 of 35 comments
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The best way to plant sweet potatoes is to take a piece of vine with growing tip at one end about 400mm long, strip most of the leaves off but leave the growing tip (last 150mm) plant that in a trench with the tip sticking out of the soil. Water every day until it starts growing. Along the slip where the leaves joined the vine tubers will grow.

- Anonymous

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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