The holes should be at the bottom of the pot and there should be at least 5 of them. Also, you should create an area on a side of the pot where the soil is a bit higher than on the other sides. In any case, they should be harvested before the first frost in the fall for best edibility. Both types grow best in sunny conditions, but if you want to grow the garden varieties that produce edible tubers, it will take quite a long growing season. Sweet potatoes grow from slips, not seeds like most vegetables. (Regular potatoes belong to the nightshade family). How to grow potatoes indoors. You can’t harvest tubers in this manner, however. Sweet potatoes could be very helpful when it comes to, not just strengthening your immune system, but also fighting some serious illnesses, like cancer. Both types of sweet potato are widely available for sale as small container plants in the spring, but they are also easy to grow yourself by sprouting "slips" from pieces of the tubers, which is the method described here. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. Fill the container and create a raised area on one side of the container with the soil. To plant your onion in the container, fill the pot with about half the height with moist and good potting soil. If you have a sunny window or some grow lights, you can grow potatoes indoors year-round! Prepare the Tubers. Make a hole in the center of the soil, deep enough to cover the roots of the slip. But, if you do not like that or you just simply don’t want them to grow that way, you could build some sort of structure so they could grow vertically. I do recommend that you go with a tote with at least 2 cubic feet of volume or a bit more for any root crop. Harvest new potatoes within 30 days. And voila! Water thoroughly. To create sprouts, carefully wash your potatoes and cut them either in half or in large sections. Apart from that, sweet potatoes are wine and they prefer to grow across the entire ground in a horizontal way. If you want to produce sweet onions, give more water. How To: Plant Sweet Potatoes Indoors As promised, we're back with a final indoor planting project for the week. However, for growing potatoes in a pot, I would recommend well-known Miracle-gro soil. All about improving the final outcome of this project. Water the potatoes until the pot drains, then place them in a spot that gets full sun. Potatoes are a wonderful source of nutrients and can be stored for long periods of time after harvesting. Harvesting potatoes in a container is like a treasure hunt for kids: just turn over the container, and let them sort through the soil for delicious rewards! It is very common food used to make delicious meals during some holidays, like Thanksgiving, Easter and, of course, Christmas. However, sweet potatoes belong to morning glory family and potatoes are part of the tomato family. Around one week after you have planted the sweet potatoes in a pot, you should see some leaves growing. In order for them to do that, you will have to train them, since they are not natural climbers. By reading this article, I think you must have got a good idea on how to grow potatoes indoors. The tubers need loose soil to grow large. The more room potato roots have to spread in the pots, the larger the potato crop will be. After you have chosen the pot to put your plant in, now you need to get the appropriate type of soil for your plant, so it could grow healthy as it should. Lay each slip into a shallow bowl with the bottom of the stem submerged in water and the leaves hanging over the edge of the bowl. Ideal temperature for growing sweet potatoes in containers is 16°c. Keeping them in a cool area with lots of sun and watering them regularly will provide you with awesome carrots after 2-3 months. If you are growing edible tubers as vegetables, you'll need a large container or bucket to allow them adequate room to grow. Sara is here to help you grow green thumb! Both edible and ornamental varieties of sweet potato grow quite well in large pots. The more room potato roots have to spread in the pots, the larger the potato crop will be. To get the most flavor from your sweet potatoes and to extend their shelf life, cure them in a warm, dry place for 10 days to two weeks before eating. 1. Water thoroughly and regularly while keeping the temperature between 75-80 F. (24-27 C.) when rooting. Steps. The easiest way to grow lots of sweet potato slips is by submerging the sweet potato in a cup full of water. Sweet potato slips can be purchased from online garden sources, local garden … Leave all of the stems exposed. Add more soil to your container as the potato plant grows in height. But make sure discard any slip that is wilting or that hasn't produced any roots; these won't be viable. Harvest mature potatoes when … Sweet potato contains a lot of useful vitamins and nutrients, which is extremely important if you want to strengthen your immune system and stay healthy. When growing ornamental sweet potato vines, there are a number of varieties to choose from. After around 4-5 months you should notice if your plant is ready to be harvested. You need to make sure that you are giving the plant enough water. Part 1 This is a very undemanding crop to grow; sweet potatoes are drought- and heat-tolerant and have few pests or diseases. You can follow the process above and then plant the tuber in the ground or you can grow sweet potatoes from a seedling. Mulching helps to keep the soil moist. To grow potatoes indoors, find a container with a capacity of at least 2.5 gallons. In some parts of the country, that means that propagating your own plants will need to start about 6 to 12 weeks before the last frost date. But have you ever thought of growing your own at home? Instead of using any type of synthetic fertilizer, consider compost, manure or one of the additives below that is high in potash : Greensand: the main component of Greensand is gluconate, which is a mineral derived from ocean sediment, high in potassium, magnesium, iron and aluminum. The vigorous growth and drought tolerance of ornamental sweet potato vines makes them great choices for mixed containers and hanging baskets. Follow these steps to planting and growing your own sweet potato vine indoors. To get started, look for firm sweet potatoes without any major bad spots. Once these plants have begun to grow robustly indoors, they will be ready to transfer to large mixed containers with other plants. Part 1 of 3: Creating the Best Indoor Conditions 1. Even better, the leaves are edible and tasty. If you’ve avoided growing potatoes because you don’t have the room, take heart. Check if they are healthy, by looking at their color. Find one at least 40 - 50 cm deep with holes in the bottom for drainage. Sweet potatoes come in two general forms: vegetable varieties bred for their edible roots, and as varieties bred specifically for their ornamental trailing foliage. It is not a good idea to use metal containers since they can catch rust, which could damage the plant itself. Note, sweet potatoes don’t like to be waterlogged, though. New roots will begin growing from the bottom of the slip within a few days. The sweet potato is a large, sweet-tasting root of the morning glory family. In the next 3 months, the plant should grow more and more leaves and vines. Potatoes can be grown in containers with great success. Growing sweet potatoes in pots. Kerry Michaels is a writer and photographer with several years specializing in gardening and landscape design. Use a sharp knife to cut the tubers into pieces just slightly smaller than the opening on the jar or glass. They can also be grown outdoors as annual ground cover in flower beds. Sweet potatoes are surprisingly easy to grow in different regions of North America and, if properly cured, they have quite a memorable flavor. Growing sweet potato slips. It’s possible to grow potatoes in a several containers indoors. It also helps to harden off the new plants by acclimating them gradually to the outdoors before putting them into their permanent locations. Read more. Though stevia can live about three years in warm climates, it loses potency with each year. If the soil feels dry, add water. Those, you will need in order to perform the process. Your plant may grow very quickly. Beautiful handmade planters, self-watering systems, intelligent kits, and much more! If that’s the case and if you have always wanted to grow sweet potatoes in a pot, either because you do not have a huge garden or you simply want to try something new, then stick with me and I will teach you how to do that. But not too watery. Follow these steps to planting and growing your own sweet potato vine indoors. Or, if you will plant the edible sweet potatoes in the ground, then the slips can be started in seedling pots, also. Locate the middle of each tuber piece and insert three or more toothpicks into it; they should go about 1/2 to 1 inch into the tuber. Try growing sweet potato vine indoors. Take each sprout and very carefully separate it from the tuber by gently twisting it. Once those slips start to develop, they'll each have their own root system. and spread a thick layer of mulch around the container to act as a blanket to protect the roots. It’s possible to grow potatoes in a several containers indoors. Sweet potato is one of my favorite food. Overall, sweet potatoes are a forgiving crop to grow. The best soil for sweet potatoes is loose and rich in organic … If you have any questions, feel free to ask me in the comments below! That would be counter-productive and wouldn’t do much good to the plant. So, if you would want to ensure good growth, you should water your plant regularly, place it in a good sunny location. You need sweet potato cuttings (or slips). What is the fastest way to harvest sweet potatoes? Depending on the variety, though, it will usually take 100 to 140 days for them to fully mature. Place the container in a warm and light location and change the water regularly. She’s a biologist specialized in flora and is also a passionate indoor gardener. This could be as long as a month after your last frost date. Plant a sweet potato in water, and almost before your eyes it transforms into a sprawling vine with lime green or purple-tinged leaves. 17 Fast Growing Indoor Plants – Garden in a Month, 15+ Stunning Anthurium Varieties You Need to Know About, 12+ Stunning Calathea Types You Need to Know About, 10+ Monstera Varieties You Can Grow Indoors, 15 Fast Growing Vegetables That Are Super Easy To Grow, Fast Growing Indoor Herbs – Organic Herbs In A Month, 19 Types of Lettuce and How to Grow Them Fast and Easy, 14 Houseplants That Easily Grow Without Soil, 20 Indoor Plants That Don’t Need Drainage Holes, Indoor Plants That Improve Air Quality – Grow Them Easily, Grow Sweet Potatoes In A Pot – Full Guide, How To Shade Your Greenhouse And Keep It Cool In The Summer. 15% Discount on orders over $70! Our kitchen window is beginning to get overrun with plants in various stages and we're loving it. sweet potatoes (Ipomea batatas) aren’t related to regular potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) or yams (Dioscorea sp In around 4 months after the planting process, your sweet potatoes should start getting yellow color, which means that they are almost ready to be harvested. You can opt-out at any time. How to grow potatoes indoors. Chit your potatoes by leaving them in natural light to sprout. It should have access to the sun for most of the day. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | About Author |Plant Selection Quiz | Write for us |Become an affiliate | Shop |Copyright © 2020 IndoorGardenNook. If your region doesn’t often receive sustained freezes, you can simply bury the container in which the vines grow in mounded soil. Then let’s begin! Sweet potatoes are usually ready to harvest four to five months after planting. If you live in an apartment with a balcony, potatoes can be grown in a container, pot, wheelbarrow etc. This plant produces vine-like stems similar to the philodendron and requires similar care to that of ivy when grown indoors. Now, before you start growing your own sweet potatoes, you will have to gather several things. Apart from those holes, you could also make several holes on the pot sides if you want. Be aware that the safety of using galvanized containers –small stock tanks and the like –for vegetable crops is in dispute and the internet hosts various opinions taking one side or another. However, they are not natural climbers. Plant a sweet potato in water, and almost before your eyes it transforms into a sprawling vine with lime green or purple-tinged leaves. Lay down the slips across the mound with the roots at the lowest end of the soil. Make sure to keep the bottom of the tuber submerged in water. Should I use a garden fork? Fill with 10 - 20cm of mixed compost and potting mix. In the North, cover the raised rows with black plastic to keep th… You can snap those off the mother sweet potato and plant those individual slips into the ground or in a large container in the home. Extremely frost sensitive, they should not be planted until at least two weeks after the last frost. So, you will have to make sure to choose the location wisely so you could meet their requirements. Sweet potatoes prefer to grow in soil that is high in potassium. Look for wide, round or square containers with deep bottoms and a depth of at least 12 inches. Growing Basics. It's better if they haven't been refrigerated: Large sweet potato tubers may need to be cut into large pieces in order to place them in water for sprouting. So, let’s see what are those things. And just a tad of patience. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. 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