Best Time for Growing Sweet Potatoes within Zone 7: Crucial Timeframes and Strategies
Growing Sweet Potatoes in USDA Zone 7: A Comprehensive Guide
Sweet potatoes are a popular and nutritious crop for home gardeners, and USDA Zone 7 offers an ideal climate for their growth. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you cultivate these delightful tubers in your Zone 7 garden.
Fertilizing and Storing
For optimal root development, use a balanced fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium. Be mindful of excessive nitrogen, as it may encourage leaf growth at the expense of tuber production. Store your sweet potatoes in a cool, dry place with temperatures above 50°F, good ventilation, and avoid temperatures below 50°F to prevent rot. Regularly check your stored potatoes for signs of spoilage.
Watering Slips and Crop Rotation
Water your slips thoroughly immediately after planting and keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Proper spacing, hygiene, and yearly crop rotation help ward off diseases and reduce the risk of soil-borne diseases like black rot and fusarium wilt. Using black plastic mulch can help warm the soil early, suppress weeds, and retain soil moisture.
Choosing the Right Varieties
The best sweet potato varieties for Zone 7 include Beauregard, Covington, Bayou Belle, and Red Japanese. These varieties are well-adapted to the zone's climate conditions, particularly the length of the growing season and soil temperature requirements.
- Beauregard is widely recommended for its good yield, disease resistance, and adaptability to varying soils.
- Covington is a popular variety favored for its smooth skin, sweet flavor, and consistent performance.
- Bayou Belle and Red Japanese also do well in these conditions, offering diversity in color and taste.
Planting and Harvesting
Because Zone 7 soils warm up more slowly compared to warmer zones, it's critical to wait until soil temperatures reach about 65°F before planting slips. This timing helps ensure tuber formation and avoids chilling damage to the slips. Sweet potatoes are ready for harvest when yellowing leaves appear, which is usually in late September to early October. Use a spading fork to gently lift potatoes from the soil or dump soil from containers into a wheelbarrow. Let tubers rest on the ground for a couple of hours to dry and toughen the skin.
Curing and Post-Harvest Handling
After harvest, keep tubers at around 85°F with high humidity for about 10 days for curing and sweetening the flesh. Post-harvest handling involves letting tubers rest on the ground for a couple of hours to dry and toughen the skin.
Managing Pests
Common pests include sweet potato weevils and wireworms. Regularly inspect plants and use organic pesticides if necessary.
In summary, by following these guidelines, you can successfully grow sweet potatoes in USDA Zone 7. Consider varieties like Beauregard, Covington, Bayou Belle, and Red Japanese for their adaptability and suitability to the zone's climate conditions. Happy gardening!
By carefully selecting suitable varieties such as Beauregard and Covington, you're well-equipped to cultivate sweet potatoes in your home garden, given the home-and-garden lifestyle in USDA Zone 7. With proper fertilization, watering, crop rotation, and pest management, you can transform your garden into a thriving oasis of sweet potatoes.
