Sweet Potato Growing Problems Troubleshooting

Roots should not be kept constantly moist. Avoid overwatering; make sure soil is well drained. Water deeply for 2 to 3 hours at a time then allow the soil to dry to a depth of 6 to 8 inches before watering again. Heavy, clay soil which retains moisture can cause sweet potato roots to become long and stringy.

Why are my sweet potatoes not growing?
Why did my sweet potatoes grow long and skinny?
Why is my sweet potato plant dying?
How do I encourage sweet potatoes to sprout?
What is the problem with sweet potatoes?
When should you not eat sweet potatoes?
What happens if you don't harvest sweet potatoes?
What does it mean when sweet potatoes bloom?
Why is my sweet potato growing roots?
How do you revive a sweet potato plant?
How often should you water sweet potato plants?
Are sweet potato slips dead?

Why are my sweet potatoes not growing?

Sweet potatoes will be overly stressed if they get too dry, and a stressed plant will not put energy into tuber growth. Like the rest of your garden, about 1” of water a week is a good guideline.

Why did my sweet potatoes grow long and skinny?

My sweet potatoes are long and thin. Is there something wrong with my soil? Too much nitrogen in the soil causes long, thin roots. When planting next season, don't improve soil in your sweet potato patch with anything that might add nitrogen (such as compost), and don't fertilize.

Why is my sweet potato plant dying?

Fusarium and Verticillium wilts attack many types of plants, including sweet potatoes. The first signs are yellowing leaves at the bottom of the plant. As the disease gets worse it works its way up the plant until all of the leaves turn yellow and they fall off.

How do I encourage sweet potatoes to sprout?

Each sweet potato can produce up to 50 slip sprouts. To create sprouts, carefully wash your potatoes and cut them either in half or in large sections. Place each section in a jar or glass of water with half of the potato below the water and half above. Use toothpicks to hold the potato in place.

What is the problem with sweet potatoes?

Risks. Sweet potatoes contain potassium. A high potassium intake may not be suitable for people who take beta-blockers. Doctors commonly prescribe these for heart disease, and they can cause potassium levels to rise in the blood.

When should you not eat sweet potatoes?

As sweet potatoes begin to spoil, they will shrivel (like the one on the photo above) as they lose moisture. The veggie will then become mushy and turn brown or black. Do not eat sweet potatoes once they have begun to shrivel, and certainly not past this point.

What happens if you don't harvest sweet potatoes?

But, if you wait until there is significant, visible frost-kill of the vines, the sweet potatoes you dig will be compromised. They will look and taste fine when first harvested, but their long-term storage potential is reduced.

What does it mean when sweet potatoes bloom?

If all is well with the fertilizer, then it just has to do with temperatures and sunlight. Simply remove the flowers to maximize tuber growth. ... If flowering does occur, it is an added bonus and not anecessity to remove the flowers as it is with edible sweet potatoes. These ornamental plants DO produce tubers.

Why is my sweet potato growing roots?

It's not always a bad thing though. If the sprouted spud also has soft and wrinkly flesh, it's an indication that the potato has lost nutrients, so it's best to compost it. If it's still firm, go ahead and enjoy!

How do you revive a sweet potato plant?

If your transplanted sweet potato vine looks wilted and stressed, take steps to perk it up and revitalize its health.

Spread 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch, such as compost or grass clippings around the sweet potato vvines. ...
Water the sweet potato vine once a day, or as necessary to keep the soil consistently moist.

How often should you water sweet potato plants?

Water. Once established, sweet potatoes will tolerate growing in dry soil. It's best to keep it evenly moist with 1 inch of water given once a week. Don't water your sweet potatoes during the final three to four weeks prior to harvest to prevent the mature tubers from splitting.

Are sweet potato slips dead?

My sweet potatoes arrived wilted. Are they dead? The tops will look wilted, but the roots should look white and firm. As long as the roots look good, the plants will grow.