Sweet potatoes are widely grown in warmer climes and are gaining popularity in the UK, with the introduction of hardier cultivars. They have attractive lush foliage, so are ornamental as well as edible, but they need a warm summer or extra protection, especially in cooler regions, to produce good tubers.
Where are sweet potatoes grown in the UK?
“We have been successful in growing sweet potatoes outdoors in Kent because of careful variety trial work and selection for frost resistance.” Sweet potatoes are normally imported to the UK from southern US states, Egypt and Israel because they need warm and dry conditions to grow.
Are sweet potatoes grown in Britain?
Sweet potatoes are an increasingly popular vegetable crop to grow in the UK, both as an alternative to regular (white) potatoes and in their own right. They are not related to regular potatoes, but are actually a member of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae).
Can I grow sweet potatoes from a sweet potato?
You can start your own slips, sprouts from an existing sweet potato, by purchasing “seed” sweet potatoes from a nursery; or you can start slips from tubers purchased from the grocery store. Some sweet potatoes may be sprayed to inhibit sprouting, so be careful to choose organic tubers.
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