suppose harvesting a bounty of vibrant , nutrient - packed fresh potato without ever needing a garden bed .
If you ’ve been fight with limited space or stubborn soil , there ’s a solution that might storm you : grow sweet potatoes in soil dish .
This technique not only maximize your acquire area but also simplifies the full process , making it accessible for both flavour green thumbs and queer beginners alike .
Ready to metamorphose your horticulture game ? This guide will reveal the step - by - step closed book to cultivating sweet-flavored white potato in soil bags , so you’re able to revel a delicious and abundant harvest , no matter where you live . Let ’s dig in !
1. Why Choose Soil Bags for Growing Sweet Potatoes?
Soil bags , also cognize as grow bags , are a practical pick for growing sweet potatoes for several reason . They offer splendid drain , forestall waterlogging , which is a vernacular issue in traditional garden .
The bags are also portable , allowing you to move your plants to catch the good sun or avoid harsh weather condition . Additionally , grime traveling bag assist regulate temperature by allowing spare warmth to escape , creating a more stable environs for tooth root development .
2. Selecting the Right Soil Bag
When choose a filth purse for your sweet potatoes , size of it matters . seraphic Solanum tuberosum need space to fan out out their roots , so opt for a pocketbook that is at least 10 - 20 congius in sizing .
magnanimous bags , such as 50 or 100 gallons , are even better if you want to develop multiple plants in the same bag .
Ensure the bag is made of durable , non - woven fabric that allows for proper aeration and drainage . These features are of the essence to preclude root rot and promote healthy growth .
Source: Reddit
3. Preparing the Soil
Sweet tater thrive in informal , well - draining soil that is rich in constitutive matter . To devise the soil for your bags , meld adequate portion of mellow - quality compost and constitutive potting soil .
add together a bit of perlite or sand can further improve drain . honeyed potato prefer more or less acidic to impersonal dirt with a pH of 5.6 to 6.5 , so consider testing your grunge and adjusting it if necessary .
If you ’re looking for an surplus boost , you could incorporate a balanced , slow - outlet fertilizer with a low-spirited atomic number 7 depicted object , such as a 5 - 10 - 10 blend . This will aid the plants focalize on beginning development rather than unreasonable foliage growth .
4. Preparing the Sweet Potato Slips
Sweet potatoes are grow from slips , which are small shoots that sprout from fledged fresh potato . you could either buy teddy from a glasshouse or grow your own at home .
To farm your own , set a sound sweet potato in a strong , sunny location , either in a jolt of water with the bottom half submerge or buried partially in moist ground . Within a few weeks , shoots will lead off to emerge .
Once the slip reach about 6 in in distance , cautiously wriggle them off the Irish potato and rank them in water or moist soil to develop roots . These slip are now ready to be planted in your grime bag .
5. Planting the Slips
Once your berth have developed radical , it ’s time to found them in your disposed grease bags . Fill each bag about two - thirds full with your soil mixture .
Make small holes in the grease , about 3 - 4 inches cryptic , and plant each slip with at least 2 - 3 set of leave above the grease surface . Space the parapraxis about 10 - 12 column inch apart to give them rich room to grow .
After planting , irrigate the soil good but avoid making it swampy . Sweet potatoes favour moist but not waterlogged filth , so aim to keep the dirt equally damp .
6. Positioning and Sunlight
sweetened potatoes are sunlight - loving plants that demand at least 6 - 8 minute of direct sunshine each day .
grade your grime bags in a sunny spot where they will receive plenty of light . If you live in a peculiarly spicy mood , deal placing the bags where they can get some afternoon nuance to prevent the grunge from overheating .
The portability of stain bags allow you to adjust their position as want throughout the growing time of year to assure optimal sun exposure .
7. Watering and Care
reproducible watering is key to grow healthy sweet potatoes . Soil in dish lean to dry out quicker than in - soil soil , so suss out the moisture story regularly .
Water the industrial plant deeply , ensure that water reaches the theme , but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings to nullify root rot .
As the sweet murphy produce , they will produce long vines . Unlike some other plants , sweet potato vine do not need to be pruned .
Source: Reddit
In fact , the vine can be left to shower over the sides of the travelling bag , produce a beautiful display . you’re able to also prepare the vine to grow upward on a treillage if blank is limited .
8. Fertilizing
mellifluous spud are relatively low - maintenance when it come to feed . If you used a slow - sacking fertilizer during planting , extra fertilization may not be necessary .
However , if you notice the plants are not thrive , you may apply a side dressing of compost or an organic fertilizer high up in atomic number 19 and atomic number 15 about midway through the growing time of year .
stave off high-pitched - N fertilizer , as these will encourage leafy growth at the disbursal of the tuber .
9. Protecting Against Pests and Diseases
Growing sweet white potato in grunge bags helps reduce the risk of dirt - borne diseases , but you should still supervise for mutual pestilence like sweet potato weevil , aphids , and flea beetle .
audit your plants regularly and consider using organic pestilence ascendance method such as neem oil or insecticidal max if necessary .
To further protect your plants , avoid overwatering , and see good atmosphere circulation around the bag to forestall fungous diseases .
10. Harvesting Your Sweet Potatoes
fresh potatoes are commonly quick to harvest about 90 - 120 days after planting , look on the variety . The good indicator of harvest time fourth dimension is when the leave and vines start to yellow and go back .
Before harvest home , halt watering the plants for about a hebdomad to allow the filth to dry out out , have the tubers easier to jab up .
To reap , carefully cut back the vine and gently dig into the soil with your workforce to deflect damaging the Irish potato .
Source:YouTube
Alternatively , you could tip the territory bag over and sift through the grunge to call for your scented tater . Be soft , as the genus Tuber are soft and can bruise easily .
11. Curing and Storing
After harvesting , sweet potatoes postulate to be cure to arise their redolence and improve their storage life .
Place the pertly delve tubers in a warm , humid arena ( about 80 - 85 ° atomic number 9 with 85 - 90 % humidity ) for 7 - 10 days . This curing process helps the potatoes form a protective skin and converts some of the starch into sugars .
Once cure , store the sweet-smelling spud in a nerveless , dry place with temperature around 55 - 60 ° degree Fahrenheit . Avoid refrigerating them , as this can stimulate the tubers to become surd and lose sapidity . Properly cured and stored , sweet white potato can last for several month .
12. Reusing the Soil and Preparing for Next Season
One of the vantage of using soil bag is the power to recycle the dirt for multiple maturate season . After harvest , diffuse the soil out to dry and remove any remaining roots or debris .
If the soil still seems rich in nutrient , you’re able to mix it with fresh compost and pot soil for your next planting . Otherwise , it ’s skilful to lead off with a new stain potpourri to ensure your plants get the nutrient they need .
Inspect the dirt pocketbook for any star sign of wearing and tear , and repair or replace them as necessary . With a picayune care , your filth bag can be reused season after time of year , making them a sustainable alternative for home horticulture .
Source:YouTube
Growing sweet potato in soil bags is a rewarding and virtual method for menage gardeners . With the right preparation , care , and care , you’re able to enjoy a handsome harvest of sweet , nutritious tubers without the need for extensive garden space .
Whether you ’re get in a minuscule backyard or on a sunny balcony , soil bag offer a various solution that makes produce sweet potatoes accessible to everyone . Give it a try , and you might just discover that soil bag are your new preferent horticulture tool !
