How to grow sweet potatoes and what kind of soil is suitable for growing sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes, also called yam in some places, are a sweet food that can be steamed or eaten raw. Sweet potatoes are naturally big and plump, and those without worm holes are better, and sweet potatoes with good appearance are easier to sell. So how can you grow sweet potatoes to make them look good?

How to grow sweet potatoes with good appearance

1. Apply enough farmyard manure and pad with straw or wood powder

When planting, apply enough farmyard manure such as pig manure or cow manure in the hole at a dosage of 3,000 kg per mu, and then lay straw or wood powder and compact the soil. This method can not only increase fertilizer efficiency, but more importantly, improve soil compaction, increase air permeability, and reduce the yield of sweet potatoes, which is conducive to expansion. The sweet potatoes produced have smooth skin, plump and uniform size, and no deformities. This method has a significant effect on the growth of sweet potatoes in sticky soil, and is even better for sandy soil.

2. During the sweet potato growth period, timely control of growth and reasonable use of fertilizer and water

During the sweet potato growth period, control the vines, arrange fertilizer and water, especially during the sweet potato expansion period, which is related to whether the sweet potatoes are deformed, cracked, plump, and have high yields in the later stage. Specifically, during the sweet potato expansion period, remove the main vines, leave 2 to 3 secondary vines, and add fertilizers according to the standard of 40 kg of potassium fertilizer and 10 kg of phosphorus fertilizer per mu. At the same time, ensure that the surface soil is white but not cracked and retains water.

3. Ensure that the pests are eliminated at least three times to ensure that the sweet potatoes are free of insect eyes

Before planting, the field must be deeply plowed and carefully harrowed, and 50% octyl sulfate emulsifiable concentrate 300 times diluted and mixed with 25 kg of soil to spread to eliminate underground pests. During the growing season, 90% trichlorfon 800 times diluted or 50% octyl sulfate emulsifiable concentrate 1000 times diluted should be sprayed to kill insects, once every ten days, two to three times will be enough. In this way, the sweet potatoes will not be damaged by pests and the quality of the sweet potatoes will be guaranteed.

4. Pay attention to excavation and prevent human damage

All the details mentioned above have been taken care of, but due to improper digging, the sweet potatoes are damaged artificially, resulting in all previous efforts being wasted, and the gains do not outweigh the losses. The correct manual digging is to stay more than 20 cm away from the roots of the sweet potato vines, dig vertically at the bottom of the ridge to remove the soil, expose the sweet potatoes, and slowly loosen the soil more than 10 cm away from the sweet potatoes. Then, hold the sweet potato vines with your hands and lift them lightly in the loosening direction with even force, so that they will not be damaged. For machine digging, adjust the depth and width of the machine and dig at a uniform speed.

Sandy loam or semi-sandy soil is preferred. Too much sand in the soil is not conducive to water and fertilizer retention, resulting in soil barrenness and affecting the expansion of sweet potato tubers. Too much stickiness in the soil will directly hinder the expansion of sweet potatoes and affect the appearance of sweet potatoes. Many sweet potato growers use a lot of organic fertilizers in the early stages of sweet potato planting in order to better improve the soil environment.

What soil is suitable for growing sweet potatoes?

It is better to use sandy loam or semi-sandy soil to plant sweet potatoes. Too much sand in the soil is not conducive to water and fertilizer retention, resulting in soil barrenness and affecting the expansion of sweet potato tubers. Too much stickiness in the soil will directly hinder the expansion of sweet potatoes and affect the appearance of sweet potatoes. Many sweet potato growers use a lot of organic fertilizers in the early stage of sweet potato planting in order to better improve the soil environment.

When ridge-making sweet potatoes, a certain width and height must be reached. This can increase the depth of the soil layer and combine with organic fertilizer to make the soil loose and breathable, making it easier for sweet potatoes to penetrate and expand during the expansion period.

Sweet potatoes do not like dry or humid environments. Drought or humidity are not conducive to keeping the skin of sweet potatoes smooth during the expansion period. On the contrary, it will cause the skin to be rough and cracked. Underground pests and diseases, such as crickets, cutworms and other pests, will also cause certain damage to sweet potatoes, and problems such as worm holes and rot will also occur.

How to store sweet potatoes without them rotting

You can choose a sunny and leeward plot, preferably one with slightly higher ground at one end and slightly lower ground at the other end. Use an excavator to dig a 1.5m to 2.0m wide and 2m deep plot. The length depends on the number of sweet potatoes. Shovel the walls and bottom of the storage cellar flat, and then dig a 20cm wide and 15cm deep trench at the center of the bottom of the cellar. Finally, cover the top of the trench with a wooden board or other support, and then spread a moderately thick layer of straw on the entire bottom of the cellar. In this way, the cellar is complete.

The top of the sweet potatoes should be 50cm away from the cellar roof, and then 10cm thick straw should be spread on the sweet potatoes, and then the soil should be covered and compacted. Finally, the entire cellar is covered with a plastic arch shed, and the whole work is basically finished.

After the above work is done, it is necessary to strengthen management at ordinary times. When the temperature is low, the plastic film should be sealed; when the temperature is high, the shed mouth should be opened. Also pay attention to whether there is water accumulation in the small ditch at the bottom of the cellar. If there is water, it should be drained in time.

This method of storing sweet potatoes has a large storage capacity and is safe and easy to operate. The specific operation should be determined according to the actual local conditions.