Sweet potato slips value pack- Three unusual varieties for $5. Rooted cuttings.

Description

Description

3 sweet potato slips or rooted cuttings, one each of the following varieties;

‘All Purple’ – A variety with deep purple skin and flesh, a sweet, strong flavour and a dense texture.

‘Northern Star’ – A variety with reddish – purple skin and white flesh. The texture is dry and fluffy, and the flavour is sweet and nutty.

‘All White’ – Vigorous vines with lime green leaves produce an all – white tuber with a sweet flavour and fluffy texture that is excellent mashed or baked.

Care
Select a sunny position. Plant runners in a trench so that as much of the stem is covered with soil as possible, with leaves above the soil level. This will facilitate the development of extra roots.

Water daily for the first two weeks, after which water during dry periods. Vines can be trained up a trellis or allowed to sprawl. Hard pruning is tolerated and the leaves are edible and develop an amazing, creamy texture when cooked in curries and soups.

Tubers take a minimum of three or four months to be ready (depending on conditions and variety) and are most commonly harvested in Autumn, as they can become woody over the colder months. Typically they are harvested by cutting off all the vine until and then digging carefully to avoid damaging the tubers.

If grown in an area with ‘hard frosts’, some tubers should be reserved over Winter from which to grow new plants the following Spring. To start new slips from a sweet potato, simply bury the potato in free – draining soil, ideally in a container, and ensure it does not become waterlogged. This may not work with store – bought sweet potatoes as many are treated with sprouting inhibitors or irradiated to prolong shelf life.

If growing in an area with no or very mild frosts, new slips can be rooted from the vine by simply cutting a section of vine and standing it in a glass of water.

After harvesting, sweet potatoes need to be cured in order to reach their full potential of sweetness and to store longer. Here is a good wikihow page on curing sweet potatoes – but bear in mind that in Australia’s hot, dry conditions, mould can develop quickly – monitor closely, especially if you are a beginner!

For more awesome multipurpose veggies, try Scarlet Runner Beans with edible leaves and beans, Berry Saltbush with edible fruits and leaves, or Garlic Chives with edible leaves, scapes and flowers!