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

(Best months for growing Sweet Potato in Australia - temperate 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

Your comments and tips

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07 Jul 15, Greg Morris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi there, Are you still able to send runners for kumara please? If so my address is: [email protected]
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07 Jul 22, Paul Olsen (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, this post is back in 2015, happy to pay, can anyone supply me with runners or small seedlings? [email protected] 0414752235
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28 Jun 20, Anonymous (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Have you any Nz Kumura plants in Australia please I would love some thanks
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18 Jun 15, Ajay Gridgeman (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have also been looking for some real kumera (NZ) since i returned from Europe several years ago. I had some growing bfore i left. Could i be cheeky and ask for some runners also.
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17 May 14, Margaret (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I just bought one from Bunnings in Queensland. First time they have had them in. Called" Sweet Potato Purple". Definitely a Kumara!! Try to get one at Bunnings over there and ask them to get them in! Good Luck.
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08 Apr 15, susan johnson (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Many thanks Margaret! I must say I remain sceptical, but will definitely try Bunnings!
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28 Apr 14, jan (Australia - temperate climate)
i have read on gardenate that sweet potatoes aren't suitable for temperate Australia. A chinese man gave me a sweet potato vine cutting and I've been harvesting the greens off this for several months now. When does the plant die down for harvesting the sweet potatoes underneath? At the moment there seems to be constant growth on top and only an occasional yellow leaf.
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04 May 14, Steve McLeish (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
when do i harvest my sweet potatoes
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29 Apr 14, Jaizi (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Jan, I'm growing sweet potatoes in Temperate too. They grow really easily here actually, but mine have never died back like it says. You just have to dig around and see if they are a good size. You don't even have to harvest to whole plant, just a couple of tubers at a time and let it keep on growing. They are also really easy to transplant to another area, they're just an all-round hardy food plant. The hard part of transplanting is to make sure you get it all, otherwise you'll have them re-sprout. Jaizi
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22 Mar 14, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I have 2 sweet potatoes that have grown shoots whilst in the cupboard . If i cut them in half can I use half and plant the other half or should I allow the shoots to continue growing and plant those later . Its autumn now.. I have a plot I can use that would be sheltered from frost although we only get a couple each year
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Plant the tubers that you want to grow but in a separate bed. They will sprout lots of shoots which will also have roots near the base. When the shoots are 40 to 50 cm long put a fork under the tuber and gently lift it out. Separate the shoots and plant them in the bed you have prepared for them as indicated in the article above. Last year, before I knew this, I planted several tubers where I wanted them to grow but after learning the right method I dug up three and planted out about 50 slips. The slips can be left in water while you are waiting to plant them out and in a few days mine put out prolific roots where the base was under water. You can also start the sprouting inside, cutting the tops off tubers and putting the cut down in shallow water, then planting them out when they start to sprout. Roots will also start growing but later than the shoots. Look for the eyes in the tubers as they are where the shoots come from.

- Paul

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