Sweet Potatoes

[adekun]

Yesterday I dug up the first row of sweet potatoes. Didn't expect too much, but was buoyed having had a sneek preview the week before. See http://adekun.com/blog/index.php?entry= ... 011-162512
I was told by my neighbour (being nice?) that what I got was good, but I think it was pretty poor.
Many (there wasn't that many) were the size of a yam or small carrot. Apparently these are good as they are easy to cook. I had dreams of big fat ones for the oven.

Any ideas I what I should be expecting? I've decided to leave the other row for another month.

[lindysman]

Hi Ade,

You may find this useful -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/gqt/fsheets ... tsq3.shtml

[Wombat]

They are tropical Adekun, how hot does your area get?

Nev

[adekun]

This year wasn't so hot, usually around 35ºC during the summer. Should be up in the forties. Always mushiatsui (hot & humid)... despite to the west there is a big lake and to the north and the east the sea. Soil is sandy (having dug through a metre of subsoil and builders rubble, perhaps a shinto temple too) - I guess the soil is ideal for sweet potatoes?
I was told my my neighbour (I'm always asking him) they don't need watering, but I wonder as that's probably what most of the tuber is made up of. I should have given them a larger area to grow in and trimmed the vines. He got plenty of leaves but not much else - it was a disappointing run for him this time, but they were located in the shade.
Most veg doubled in price because of fickle weather.

[Wombat]

G'Day Adekun,

In sandy soil I would think they would need plenty of watering! Try adding lots of organic matter. Also if your neighbour got lots of leaves but no roots that generally means too much nitrogen - added as fertiliser or nitrogen rich organic material such as chook poo! Digging carbonaceous material such as straw through will even things out, or just grow leaf crops to use it up!

Nev

[adekun]

Konnichiwa Nev-san,

Started composting this year, so hopefully will have something next time around. This year I've been buying composted manure and chicken litter (which stinks). I didn't want to use too much given the price and additives. Next year, I might take my mother-in-law's car and try to cadge some cow poo off dairy farmer I've met a couple of times.
My neighbour went full-time about ten years ago, once he retired. He's put into the ground a great deal of stuff over the years and uses plenty of chemical feeds. I reckon however, I'll have better luck suggesting the green manure, rather than a cut back on the spraying.

[Wombat]

No worries, Mate! Good luck.......

Nev