How to Grow Georgia Jet Sweet Potatoes

Growing a sweet potato vine is relatively easy. If you have good soil and warm temperatures, you can plant a Georgia Jet in 90 days. This variety has a high yield and produces large, tasty roots. It is an excellent choice for gardens in cold climates, but can also be grown in areas with cool climates. This type of sweet potato can also be cultivated in a 20-gallon grow tub for ease and speed.

Once the plants have established a root system, they can be planted directly into the ground. You should plant the tubers when the soil reaches 60-70degF. This is about two weeks after the last frost. Keep in mind that you need to keep the soil at these temperatures for at least three weeks before planting. A daytime temperature of 70 degrees is the ideal temperature for planting a sweet potato.

The foliage of a regular potato plant dies back when the spuds are ready to harvest. However, the foliage of a sweet potato plant stays green until the temperature turns too cold. A good rule of thumb is to leave a sweet potato plant a minimum of 120 days before harvest. The earliest sweet potatoes to be harvested are about 100 days old. Remember that cold weather can affect the tubers. They tend to cluster more closely to the stem and have very thin skin and flesh that bruises easily.