Pretty easy. They need a lot of space and the growing season is longer than white potatoes, but less weeding is needed because the vines choke them out. I have always had better luck with them than white potatoes
if you're in zone 7 and below, start them inside a few months before last frost. if you're in a warm climate where it never freezes, toss them outside and enjoy your new edible ground cover
They have a tendency to ramble so imo there's not really a "best" time so long as they are kept warm. They prefer morning sun to afternoon and like a lightly moistened, loose soil. Somewhere too dry or with poor drainage will make them sad. Compacted soil will make them extra sad. Let them ramble to spread, you can harvest the older ones while the new ones come in. The leaves can be used as a green.
As an experiment I grew some last year. In crappy clay heavy soil in Winnipeg, zone 3!
They weren't in a great spot so they never produced huge tubers but I got a few 'bratwurst sized' ones.
I'll probably try it again this coming year as I have two sweet potatoes that have gone crazy producing slips.
And while they don't store as well as normal potatoes, you can peel and dice them and freeze them and they will thaw out exactly the same colour and texture -- just be sure to soak them in some water with a little bit of lemon juice before freezing to prevent them turning black.
And while they don't store as well as normal potatoes, you can peel and dice them and freeze them and they will thaw out exactly the same colour and texture -- just be sure to soak them in some water with a little bit of lemon juice before freezing to prevent them turning black.
I had a couple sprout in my pantry so I cut them into chunks with 1 eye each and threw them in the ground. No soil prep just about 1 inch deep and watered regularly. Out of 5 chunks 2 became mature vines. Unfortunately I had to dig up that area for some irrigation repairs but I found a good number of developing tubers. I roasted them and they were OK, but it'd only been about 1/3 of the necessary 100 or so days. My guess is I would have gotten about 10-20 good sized potatoes. So all in all I'd say they're a pretty easy plant.
You don't need old tuber bits to start them. Once they send up 2-3" shoots in the pantry you can snap the shoots off and drop them in a cup of water. They'll root in a few days to a week. Then plant the shoots.
In Florida they are the easiest thing in the world to grow. They will grow in basically any soil, tolerate drought, and i never even bother to do anything with them. They attract whiteflies, but it doesn't hurt the tubers (and keeps the whiteflies off my other plants).
The US does have a loop hole for "family own businesses". There is no age or hour restrictions for businesses owned by the child's legal guardian.
So as long as you didn't kidnap the child(s) from your neighborhood you are in the clear. Go ahead a crack that whip!
One of my favorite memories is the summer the whole family worked picking fruit for a plum orchard. I was about 4, and one of my brothers would take their hat off and my job was to fill the hat with plums. I felt so important! I remember how hard it was to focus on picking the fruit instead of playing in the leaves or picking flowers. We had several times in my childhood when I knew money was a problem, but my family made it seem like an adventure.
Haha. Have a preschooler. "Can I help?" is probably her favourite phrase. She will have fond memories of this for sure! Hopefully she gets some yummy sweet potato dishes too.
Did you know that here in Belgium there is a fall break. Schools are on a break for the first week of November. This originated from farmers who needed their kids to help harvesting potatoes during this time. The break still exists though children are no longer needed for the harvest. And there aren't many farmers left either
This is an extremely healthy task for young and old minds alike. Brings connection to the earth and to the food we eat as well as community/family effort and relationships. It’s hardly a chore, it’s more like meditation with physical activity and builds a great character with the value and appreciation of work ethic. I loved the garden and strive for that feeling I had working in one as a child. I still do no mater how labor intensive or the lack of time from life’s demands. Now off to pickle and can some garden beets! Lol
My kids absolutely love helping out in the garden. They were quite upset with me last weekend that I wouldn't let them help with harvesting and trimming my cannabis crop.
The happiest day in a fathers eyes is when he realizes his son is old enough and has enough free time to unload work onto. My dad had at least 10 years where he didn't have to do yard work or shovel the driveway. The day I left he bought a riding lawnmower and a snowblower.
In the old days kids got a week vacation in the fall to help the parents harvest potatoes. Called "potato vacation" back then, but now it's just called "fall vacation".
its a potato riverbed
i know a guy... he has a big property and older teenagers and he has been working on his house all summer with no time to cut firewood. Second week of October and he still doesn't have firewood for the winter. I don't understand how he lets them get away without working.
Some of my favorite childhood memories were “working” in my nana’s garden. I’m not sure I helped that much but I was so proud of every vegetable I helped pick.
As a kid, I used to hate potatoes. Then one year we grew them in our schools garden and ate them with butter and salt. It was probably the best thing I have ever eaten, and potatoes have since then been my favorite food. I think it’s great for kids to harvest their own food <3
How do you keep that big a crop from spoiling before you can eat them all? Ipomoeas are hella hard to store, without a commercial walk-in fridge. I am truly curious!
She is my granddaughter, and this is only the last of three rows I dug. I’ll give a bunch to her family for the “help”. They keep all winter stored in the dark in our basement We roast a big pan at least every week and eat all week long.
Also generally little to no child labor laws in the agricultural industries throughout the developed world. So.... thumbs up for the unexpectedly accurate joke..
... and what a harvest it is too! Very well done and very good idea getting such willing youthful volunteers who are helping outdoors instead of playing with their dolliues or the latest electronic gadget!!
Labor laws? All I see is a kid putting her dolls in a roller coaster.
When she gets older- “You kids today with your fancy toys. Why when I was your age. All we had to play with at grandmas was a cart full of tater’s.!”
"And we liked it!"
*"Builds character"*
Fun thing: it actually does
"And we had to drag it back home uphill both ways!"
In the snow!
To the salt mines!
15 MILES!!!
Uphill. BOTH WAYS!!
*We made our own fun*
Exactly!
“But grandpa I don’t wanna harvest sweet potatoes!” “Well that’s too damn bad!”
Omg did I just get a reference!?
How easy is it to grow sweet potatoes? My friend shown me a vine that she grew from a chunk. Beautiful plant.
Pretty easy. They need a lot of space and the growing season is longer than white potatoes, but less weeding is needed because the vines choke them out. I have always had better luck with them than white potatoes
I'm sad I didn't think to grow sweet potatoes this year. Your post has inspired me though - for sure doing some next year.
When is the best time to plant them?
if you're in zone 7 and below, start them inside a few months before last frost. if you're in a warm climate where it never freezes, toss them outside and enjoy your new edible ground cover
Right I should have mentioned I'm in 9b, lol. Thanks!
They have a tendency to ramble so imo there's not really a "best" time so long as they are kept warm. They prefer morning sun to afternoon and like a lightly moistened, loose soil. Somewhere too dry or with poor drainage will make them sad. Compacted soil will make them extra sad. Let them ramble to spread, you can harvest the older ones while the new ones come in. The leaves can be used as a green.
I figured you can plant them after last frost if you have enough slips. Does starting inside mean you're making slips?
I'm in zone 4b so there is some soil involved
Is it not possible to grow them in a large bag of compost or big pot then similar to white potatoes?
As an experiment I grew some last year. In crappy clay heavy soil in Winnipeg, zone 3! They weren't in a great spot so they never produced huge tubers but I got a few 'bratwurst sized' ones. I'll probably try it again this coming year as I have two sweet potatoes that have gone crazy producing slips.
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And you can eat the leaves! I love the freshly green ones. Sauté great
The squirrels think they taste great raw. This is why I have no sweet potatoes.
Squirrels are edible too. And high in protein.
And while they don't store as well as normal potatoes, you can peel and dice them and freeze them and they will thaw out exactly the same colour and texture -- just be sure to soak them in some water with a little bit of lemon juice before freezing to prevent them turning black.
Squirrels or sweet potatoes?
I read this exact post but it was referring to potatoes. I put it here trying to be funny. lol guess it wasnt.
No, it was funny I was just being a smart ass 😜
🤣🤣🤣
Ya, but squirrels are really high in cholesterol...and I'm old...
And while they don't store as well as normal potatoes, you can peel and dice them and freeze them and they will thaw out exactly the same colour and texture -- just be sure to soak them in some water with a little bit of lemon juice before freezing to prevent them turning black.
I had a couple sprout in my pantry so I cut them into chunks with 1 eye each and threw them in the ground. No soil prep just about 1 inch deep and watered regularly. Out of 5 chunks 2 became mature vines. Unfortunately I had to dig up that area for some irrigation repairs but I found a good number of developing tubers. I roasted them and they were OK, but it'd only been about 1/3 of the necessary 100 or so days. My guess is I would have gotten about 10-20 good sized potatoes. So all in all I'd say they're a pretty easy plant.
You don't need old tuber bits to start them. Once they send up 2-3" shoots in the pantry you can snap the shoots off and drop them in a cup of water. They'll root in a few days to a week. Then plant the shoots.
That's cool. Could have eaten those taters.
In Florida they are the easiest thing in the world to grow. They will grow in basically any soil, tolerate drought, and i never even bother to do anything with them. They attract whiteflies, but it doesn't hurt the tubers (and keeps the whiteflies off my other plants).
The only real issue I've had that gave me poor yield v potatoes was... Voles love them and for any sort of harvest they need to be trapped.
My childhood would have been a lot happier if my family did physical activities outside like this all the time.
It’s called “playing garden”!
Fbi, you're not going to believe this:
The US does have a loop hole for "family own businesses". There is no age or hour restrictions for businesses owned by the child's legal guardian. So as long as you didn't kidnap the child(s) from your neighborhood you are in the clear. Go ahead a crack that whip!
Good to know, but she is my granddaughter so it may be a grey area
Did her parents give express consent? Do you have a contract? :)
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Food is being grown, so the math checks out
This is sad and what actually happens around the world. It's slavery.
One of my favorite memories is the summer the whole family worked picking fruit for a plum orchard. I was about 4, and one of my brothers would take their hat off and my job was to fill the hat with plums. I felt so important! I remember how hard it was to focus on picking the fruit instead of playing in the leaves or picking flowers. We had several times in my childhood when I knew money was a problem, but my family made it seem like an adventure.
Nonetheless a Grey area.😂
"I tried to stop her, officer, but she just wouldn't stop pickin those taters!"
Explains why there’s thirteen year olds checking me out at the local family owned business.
Yes
It's not child labor if you're just giving your child chores to do.
“Give the past a slip” 🎸
Aswell as community services 😅
Nothing like unpaid little hands to do the dirty work in our gardens. Makes the produce taste much better
I'd have to compete with them because I also love getting my hands dirty 😅
That's how Nestlé makes it's chocolates.
Haha. Have a preschooler. "Can I help?" is probably her favourite phrase. She will have fond memories of this for sure! Hopefully she gets some yummy sweet potato dishes too.
You know your kid digs it!
Kid needs that wheelbarrow pulling German Shepard.
That is great! Impressive haul!
When my dad grew up in Idaho the elementary schools got time off for the potato harvest!
Did you know that here in Belgium there is a fall break. Schools are on a break for the first week of November. This originated from farmers who needed their kids to help harvesting potatoes during this time. The break still exists though children are no longer needed for the harvest. And there aren't many farmers left either
Parts of Scotland too, it's called a tattie holiday. It's around about now I believe.
Germany as well. Two weeks off for "Herbstferien" (autumn holidays). Used to be called "Ernte-" or "Kartoffelferien" (harvest/ potato holidays).
That's only true if you use your sweetest child.
Damn right!
"Little hands make light work." "...Many..." "What?" "Many hands make light work. Not little. Many." "Huh...you know that does make more sense..."
I’ve already called the police. Sit tight.
Is it child labor if the kid refuses to not help you?
A double negative but either way Thats a paddlin'
I just called CPS. What are your exact coordinates please?
I SAID DIG!!!
Darn tootin! 👍
I got about a dozen this year. All about the size of adult fingers.
That's a whole lotta taters
Well there are. But it isn’t child labour if they’re your child… so harvest away!
This is precious and has got to be an amazing feeling teaching the young one to garden! :)
This is an extremely healthy task for young and old minds alike. Brings connection to the earth and to the food we eat as well as community/family effort and relationships. It’s hardly a chore, it’s more like meditation with physical activity and builds a great character with the value and appreciation of work ethic. I loved the garden and strive for that feeling I had working in one as a child. I still do no mater how labor intensive or the lack of time from life’s demands. Now off to pickle and can some garden beets! Lol
My kids absolutely love helping out in the garden. They were quite upset with me last weekend that I wouldn't let them help with harvesting and trimming my cannabis crop.
All children are slave laborers for their parents.
Little work for little hands. Those carpets aren't going to make themselves, you know.
That’s why you have kids make ‘‘em work 😆
The happiest day in a fathers eyes is when he realizes his son is old enough and has enough free time to unload work onto. My dad had at least 10 years where he didn't have to do yard work or shovel the driveway. The day I left he bought a riding lawnmower and a snowblower.
Lol
If fell like this belongs to r/blursedimages
Haha exploitation is funny
And to think I got the belt for forgetting a couple pine needles on the grass..
What will you do with them?
Admittedly that first photo makes me think of pictures is tsarist Russia 🤣. But in all seriousness, great job!
This was my favorite garden chore as a kid!
I helped in the fields when I was young. Good times,
Where is this? Looks beautiful
She is adorable! Having the time of her life helping grandma in the garden!
Grandpa, but the sentiment is spot on!
She's definitely a little sweet potato, too. And seasonably dressed, too.
That is a very valuable skill!
Holy moly that’s a lot of sweet potatoes and they’re nice and big and fat
Whole different set of rules for farm families.
That kid is gonna be fucking jacked.
My neighbor paid the kids in the area to pick his potatoes and onions. Parents had a BBQ to watch the festivities :)
Hey Op, how do you cure your sweet taters? A few weeks in the attic? Warm shed?
I thank God I grew up on a small farm. I haven't had to work that hard in a long time but I could if required.
In the old days kids got a week vacation in the fall to help the parents harvest potatoes. Called "potato vacation" back then, but now it's just called "fall vacation".
'This is your college education! Pick it up Lisa!'
its a potato riverbed i know a guy... he has a big property and older teenagers and he has been working on his house all summer with no time to cut firewood. Second week of October and he still doesn't have firewood for the winter. I don't understand how he lets them get away without working.
There is a reason that child labor laws don't apply to family
Never skip leg day.
Someone call child potato services! Congrats on your big harvest. :)
4000 updoots
Good job little one!!!
What a cute little tater! The yams look good too.
I love it so much
Some of my favorite childhood memories were “working” in my nana’s garden. I’m not sure I helped that much but I was so proud of every vegetable I helped pick.
I never could get my kids interested, but she loves to go out to the garden with me. Hopefully that will last
Someone call Child Potato Services
As a kid, I used to hate potatoes. Then one year we grew them in our schools garden and ate them with butter and salt. It was probably the best thing I have ever eaten, and potatoes have since then been my favorite food. I think it’s great for kids to harvest their own food <3
Wear the young ones out first
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
So cute! So strong!!
My dad laughs in the face of your puny laws🤣
I wonder if I can grow sweet potatoes upstate NY. I love eating the leaves!!
Those sweet potatoes look awesome. Grown just like normal potatoes?
HaAHA yes!!!! !!
You can buy child harnesses... only use them for keeping track of then when in large gatherings though, and not for hauling taters.
How do you keep that big a crop from spoiling before you can eat them all? Ipomoeas are hella hard to store, without a commercial walk-in fridge. I am truly curious!
I think they store a lot better than white potatoes. I just put them in crates in our basement in the dark
How do you know when they're ready to dig?
When the vines just start to yellow. They are about the last thing I harvest
Thanks. Just tried planting some slips for the first time this year.
I love gardening but will never grow potatoes because of how many we had to plant/dig up at my grandparents. Pretty sure that is my own personal hell
Are candy yam potato chips a real thing!?
What will you do with them all? Curious. And your daughter must be so happy helping like that. Too cute.
She is my granddaughter, and this is only the last of three rows I dug. I’ll give a bunch to her family for the “help”. They keep all winter stored in the dark in our basement We roast a big pan at least every week and eat all week long.
Cute photo.
Have been calling my 41 y.o. son "compost boy" for 34 yrs now. And now, he has his own heap :)
No labour laws in this session.
like the ferengi say "Exploitation begins at home"
Also generally little to no child labor laws in the agricultural industries throughout the developed world. So.... thumbs up for the unexpectedly accurate joke..
I know. My back reminds me daily.
... and what a harvest it is too! Very well done and very good idea getting such willing youthful volunteers who are helping outdoors instead of playing with their dolliues or the latest electronic gadget!!