Want to know how to grow your own sweet potatoes? Keep reading to find out how simple it is to grow bags of sweet potatoes. There are 21 tips in this post that will help you grow these tasty roots, from planting slips to harvesting and storing them.
Growing your own sweet potatoes is incredibly rewarding but not everyone has the space for a large garden plot. Fortunately, you can easily grow sweet potatoes in grow bags! With just a few simple supplies, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of sweet potatoes right from your patio balcony or small yard.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn everything you need to successfully grow sweet potatoes in grow bags, step-by-step.
Why Grow Sweet Potatoes in Grow Bags?
Sweet potatoes grow very well in grow bags. The compact size allows you to grow them even with limited space. Grow bags warm up quickly in the sun, which sweet potatoes love.
Here are some of the benefits of growing sweet potatoes in grow bags
- Great for small spaces like patios, balconies and urban gardens
- Grow bags heat up faster than the ground, promoting better growth
- Excellent drainage and airflow prevents common diseases
- Easy to move to the sunniest locations
- Convenient to tend to plants and harvest tubers
- Keeps foliage contained for a tidy look
Choosing a Grow Bag
You can use any type of breathable fabric grow bag to grow sweet potatoes Look for sturdy bags designed for growing vegetables
The ideal size is 10 gallons, as this gives the potatoes enough room to form tubers without getting overcrowded. You can certainly experiment with larger or smaller bags if needed.
Make sure the bag has drainage holes on the bottom and the material is porous to allow for good airflow. Thick canvas bags work very well.
Grow Bag Soil Mix
Sweet potatoes thrive in loose, well-draining soil that warms up quickly. Asoil mix specifically formulated for containers and raised beds works perfectly.
Look for a mix that contains:
- Compost for nutrient density
- Peat or coconut coir to retain moisture
- Perlite or vermiculite for drainage
- Sand or small gravel for aeration
Avoid heavy potting mixes made for houseplants, as these will hold too much moisture.
Fill your grow bag about 3⁄4 full with potting mix, leaving room at the top for planting.
Fertilizing
Before planting, mix in a shovelful of compost and a handful of organic vegetable fertilizer into the potting mix. This gives your sweet potato plants all the nutrients they need for vigorous growth.
An organic granular fertilizer with an NPK ratio close to 5-10-10 provides the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Slow release organic fertilizers provide a steady supply of nutrients throughout the growing season.
Acquiring Slips
Sweet potatoes are grown from slips, which are sprouts that form on existing sweet potato tubers. You can buy certified disease-free slips from garden centers and nurseries, or grow your own.
To grow your own, place an organic sweet potato tuber with lots of bumps and ridges in a jar of water. Roots and slips will begin to form in just a few days. Transfer the slips to soil or water once they are 5-6 inches tall.
Planting Slips
Wait until all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach 65°F to plant sweet potato slips outside.
Plant the slips through the drainage holes at the base of your grow bag, spacing them 12 inches apart. Bury the stems up to the bottom 2-3 leaves. Gently firm the soil around each slip.
Sweet potato slips easily break, so handle them carefully. Plant on a cloudy day or late afternoon to avoid transplant shock.
Water thoroughly after planting to moisten the entire soil column. Mist the foliage if the plants appear droopy.
Caring for Plants
Sweet potatoes require very little care as they grow. Just a few simple practices will ensure strong, healthy vines:
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Water 1-2 times per week during the hot summer, less if you get frequent rain. Let the soil partially dry out between waterings.
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Apply a 2-3 inch layer of straw or leaf mulch around plants to retain moisture and discourage weeds. Replenish as needed.
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Fertilize again 6-8 weeks after planting with an organic vegetable fertilizer. Sprinkle around each plant, avoiding direct contact with stems.
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Prune off any wayward vines that spread outside of the grow bag to keep plants tidy and prevent roots from forming.
Harvesting Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes take 90-120 days to reach full size, depending on the variety. Dig too early and tubers will be undersized.
As the vines start to yellow and die back, tubers are ready for harvest. Avoid watering late in the season to make harvesting easier.
Carefully tip over the grow bag and empty out the contents. Gently dig through the soil to find the potatoes. Use your hands instead of tools to avoid bruising or cutting the tubers.
Cure harvested sweet potatoes in a warm, humid place for 7-10 days. Then enjoy fresh or store in a cool location.
Storing the Harvest
To enjoy sweet potatoes all winter, you need to store them properly after curing.
Keep cured sweet potatoes in complete darkness at 55-60°F with high humidity. A basement or cool closet works well, as long as it doesn’t drop below 50°F.
Wrap each potato in newspaper and place in open crates or cardboard boxes, not sealed containers. Avoid refrigerating them.
With proper curing and storage conditions, sweet potatoes will keep for 4-6 months.
Tips for Maximizing Your Grow Bag Harvest
Follow these tips to get the highest yields from your sweet potatoes grown in grow bags:
- Choose compact, bush-type varieties like Vardaman Bush Porto Rico
- Plant 3-4 slips in a 10 gallon grow bag, spaced 12 inches apart
- Position bags in full sun for at least 6-8 hours daily
- Use black or dark colored bags that absorb more heat
- Cover bags with black plastic mulch to boost soil temperatures
- Provide consistent moisture, especially as tubers start to size up
- Use a liquid fertilizer or compost tea every 3-4 weeks
- Harvest promptly after vines decline and before cool weather sets in
Common Problems and Solutions
Growing sweet potatoes in grow bags prevents many traditional pest and disease issues. But here are some potential problems and how to resolve them:
Leggy vines – Lack of sun. Move bag or prune vines.
Curled leaves – Insufficient watering. Water more frequently.
White crust on leaves – Hardened sap from insect damage. No action needed.
Chewing insect damage – Caterpillars, beetles, etc. Remove pests by hand or use organic pesticides.
Rotten tubers – Excess moisture. Check drainage holes and reduce watering.
Enjoying Your Sweet Potato Harvest
Nothing beats the flavor of sweet potatoes freshly harvested from your own garden. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy your homegrown sweet potatoes:
- Roast them whole in the oven drizzled with olive oil and spices
- Fry up sweet potato fries or chips for a tasty snack
- Mash them with butter, cinnamon and maple syrup
- Bake them into pies, breads and other desserts
- Puree them into a creamy soup topped with herbs
- Grill them over an open flame for a caramelized treat
Growing sweet potatoes in grow bags allows anyone to enjoy this versatile and nutritious crop. Follow this guide to get a bountiful harvest on your patio or small garden plot.
How many slips should be planted in a grow bag?
Slips should be planted about 10 to 12 inches apart. I find that you can plant two or three slips per 10 gallon wide bag, but I only plant one slip per 10 gallon tall bag.
How long does it take to cure a sweet potato?
It takes about 10 days to cure a sweet potato and here are a few helpful tips. First do not clean or wipe soil off sweet potatoes as new roots are easily damaged when washed. Next, move the roots to a warm place (inside or outside) where the temperature is between 80% and 85% of the soil’s original temperature and the humidity is between 85% and 90% of the soil’s original temperature.
Note: If curing roots inside, you can maintain the temperature using a small room with a space heater and a bucket or pan of water. Keep the roots in a well ventilated box above the heater. The roots will be cured this way in about 7 to 10 days. I use a small half bathroom for this purpose that has limited fire hazards (tile floor) since the heater will be constantly on.
EASY PLANTING SWEET POTATO IN GROW BAGS
FAQ
How many potatoes do you put in a grow bag?
How many sweet potato slips per 5 gallon bucket?
How deep of a container do you need to grow sweet potatoes?
How to grow sweet potatoes in a feed bag?
How to grow sweet potatoes?
Whether you decide to plant in beds or in grow bags, choose a spot that provides full-sunlight for most of the day. Sweet potatoes need a loamy soil with a pH between 5.0-6.5. You should amend your soil with lots of rich organic matter and make sure that it is well drained.
Can sweet potatoes grow in a grow bag?
– Fill the grow bag with a mixture of topsoil, compost, sand or peat moss, and some slow-release fertilizer (low in nitrogen, high in phosphorus, and potassium). 4.**Plant Your Slips**: – Plant the
How do you grow a sweet potato in a bucket?
Find a 20 gallon (76 L) bucket and drill holes in the bottom. To grow a sweet potato in a container, the roots need plenty of space to spread out. Choose a bucket that’s large enough room to plant 6 slips, which would require at least a 20 gallon (76 L) bucket.
Can you grow sweet potatoes in a container garden?
If you are short on space, growing sweet potatoes in a container garden is entirely possible. In this article, gardening expert and former organic farmer Sarah Hyde takes you through 8 simple steps for growing fantastic sweet potatoes in containers! Sweet potatoes are an incredible crop to grow at home.