Sweet Potato, A delicious and nutritious root vegetable that's rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Sweet Potatoes are a great source of Vitamin A (beta-carotene), Fiber, Vitamin C ,Potassium Vitamin B6 and Manganese
They're also used in various dishes, like soups, stews, salads, and desserts. Sweet Potatoes are a staple crop in many cultures and are grown in over 100 countries.
They're relatively easy to grow and are a great addition to any garden or farm.
So in this post, I will be guiding you on how to plant it in sacks or containers of various sizes at your backyard.
So Let's look at thee steps to farm sweet potatoes in your backyard using sacks:
1: Prepare the Sacks
Get large sacks (at least 12 inches deep and 2 feet across) Or used paint rubbers with covers.
Perforate the bottom seam of the sack to create drainage holes and do also for the rubbers. This avoids water lodging.
2: Prepare the Soil
Fill the sack with a mix of potting soil, compost. You can mix inorganic fertilizer if you don't get a compost manure.
Remember, the ratio of potting soil with compost of animals dung should be in the ratio of 1:1
Mix well to create a well-draining and fertile soil
3: Obtain Sweet Potato vine
Buy vines from a nursery or get it from a neighbour or from a trusted vendor online.
Grow your own slips by suspending a sweet potato tuber in water
4: Plant the Vines
Plant 2-3 vines per sack, and allow 3-4 nodes to enter deep for enough yield. Remember, the more the nodes which brings roots, the yield.
Water thoroughly when this is during dry season but if you are planting during raining season, water only when there is drought.
5:Water and Maintain
- Water when the soil feels dry to the touch(this is mostly when there is no enough or no rainfall at all)
Keep the sack in a sunny spot (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight)
6: mulch the side of the sack with grasses to keep the area moist.
7: Harvest
After 4-5 months, check for tubers by gently digging around the sack or opening the end of the container
Carefully remove the tubers, leaving a small portion of the stem attached
Do this and let your harvest be a testimony of your effort.