Collection: Sweet Potato Plants

Although sweet potatoes originate from much sunnier parts of the world than ours, they can certainly be grown in the UK, as the new varieties have been bred especially to withstand lower temperatures. They need a bit more care and attention than most vegetables, but are very much worth it.

Plant your sweet potatoes in late spring or early summer when there’s no risk of frosts and the soil is warm. They’ll need a temperature that’s consistently above 15°C, so if you’re in a colder area, you may have to grow them under cover.

Plant your sweet potato plants or slips in well draining, fertile soil and space them about 30-45cm apart to allow for spreading. Grow them in the sunniest part of your garden or under cover in a greenhouse, conservatory or polytunnel.

Sweet potatoes need to be regularly watered so that the soil is kept moist but not waterlogged. Mulching around the base of the plant will help to keep moisture in the soil.

Depending on your growing conditions, it will take around 3-4 months for your sweet potatoes to grow. You’ll see the foliage turning yellow and dying back in late summer or early autumn, and this is a sign that your crop is ready.

Growing sweet potatoes in containers is a great idea, as it allows you to grow under cover where the temperature can be better controlled. Choose the largest pot you can find (at least 45cm wide and deep) with good drainage holes at the bottom. Use a good loose compost or soil and plant one plant per pot.

When your sweet potatoes are ready, gently lift them by using a garden fork. Then cure them by putting them in a warm place for a couple of weeks to dry the skins, before storing them in a cool, dark and dry place with good ventilation. Stored in this way, your sweet potatoes will keep for several months. For more tips and tricks from our growers, see our complete guide to growing sweet potatoes.