Sunday, July 11, 2010

Prairie Sweet Potatoes!


And 'they' said it couldn't be done! You may have read a previous post about Aagaard Farms finally scoring some cuttings of sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes don't really grow around here; our season is no way near long enough. It has been almost impossible to find plantable tubers anywhere in Canada, and they can't come across the border from the U.S. because of restrictions about soil moving across borders, etc. We were so excited to find cuttings offered at Vesey's, one of our fav seed suppliers. Well, the cuttings arrived very late, with an apology note that Vesey's had anticipated rooted cuttings and received unrooted cuttings. Instructions said to plant, expect them to almost look dead and then they'd rebound. Well, we did, they did and they are!! They're now growing quite well in large nursery tree pots. The pots are filled with a mix of garden soil and compost. We haven't been getting our usual hot summer weather, unlike Eastern Canada, so I'm a little worried about them producing much. We put them in pots so that we can move them into the hoophouse and even into the sunroom, if we have need, in late fall. If I even get some wee tubers, at least I'll have those to plant next spring! Crossing the fingers now.......

5 comments:

  1. Wow, that is quite the experiment. You can't even grow sweet potatoes down here if you don't get going quickly once the season warms up. I'll be fascinated to see if you pull it off!

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  2. mmmm, sweet potatoes. Two thumbs up to Vesey's. I sometimes tell people I moved to PEI just so I could be closer to their store.

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  3. I have this vision of the large pots of sweet potatoes in our living room, under grow lights, at Christmas. Maybe home-grown sweet potatoes for Christmas dinner?

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  4. I was very surprised with how quickly sweet potato cuttings rebounded and started growing the first time I received a batch from Mericlone Labs. This year I've used black plastic mulch and a floating row cover to help provide the warmth and a longer growing season that sweets thrive on. Good luck with your experiment!

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  5. Have you ever considered using Cold Frames to extend your growing season... home made soil heaters can be made using x-mas lights and 4 inch pvc pipe sealed and burried. sweet potatoes work great!!! you could grow all most winter long

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