Growing Sweet Potato, also Kumara

Ipomoea batatas : Convolvulaceae / the morning glory family

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

Not recommended for growing in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions

  • Plant shoots or cuttings (Slips). Best planted at soil temperatures between 63°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 16 - 24 inches apart
  • Harvest in 15-17 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best in Separate bed

Your comments and tips

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15 Jun 19, Chris Herden (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Bruce. I have cuttings available of the new zealand kumara. I can send phot if you wish. How many were you after? I am based in Lismore and Hunter Valley, NSW.
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09 Nov 19, Bruce Windsor (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Chris, sorry for the late reply, I am really interested in the NZ kumara if you can email me pic or contact me I live on Sunshine Coast QLD Thanks Bruce
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08 Mar 19, Erin (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, I have Beauregard sweet potato if that is a nz variety?
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12 Apr 19, Bruce (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Unfortunately that one isn’t the NZ kumara
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07 Mar 19, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Try the internet - seed and bulb places - like diggers club. You would probably have to buy a SP and then plant it to produce runners/shoots /slips.
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08 Feb 19, Jan Clifford (Australia - arid climate)
I have grown a sweet potato in a glass and want to know if I can plant it or not. I an in the Central West NSW in the arid zone. TIA Jan Clifford
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12 Feb 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Plant it and see how it goes.
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12 Jan 19, Grom1t (Australia - tropical climate)
I suspend (toothpicks help) a sweet potato partially in a glass of water. After 2 weeks of so I pick off the 8inch sprouts and put them in water. I plant them once they have plenty root. First time I planted before the dry and had an excellent crop of big potatoes after at least 6 .months. it's hard to know when to harvest. .my plants never go yellow. Anyone any advice? I thought I'd try growing in pots as I had a nice if small harvest of purple fleshed ones from a pot this morning - again after 9 months I think. Magnetic Island
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13 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It does say harvest 15-17 weeks. Pick early if you want smaller size and pick later if you like the bigger ones.
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30 Oct 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Here is how they grow them commercially in sub tropical southern Queensland Australia. They hill the soil up with a 2' base and about 1' high - paddock looks like corrugated iron - wave pattern. They then take cuttings (called slips about 50-60cm long) of vine from a pre-existing growing plant. These are planted (in the top part of the mound) horizontally into the soil with just the tip sticking out of the soil. Keep well watered the first week or two until the plant starts growing. Good rich soil to start with and then do not fert again especially with N. You want root development not vine production. If looking for cuttings/slips/tubers ask friends/neighbours/produce companies/internet sites etc or start a tuber as stated here.
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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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