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I tried this last year and didn't get any takers, but we have some different people this year, so I thought I'd offer again.
It's getting time for me to take some sweet potato cuttings to overwinter as small plants for next year's crop, so would anyone else like some?
The variety is T65. Pink skin with white flesh. Heavier cropping than most, and probably your best bet for growing them in this country. I got 21kg from 8 plants last year, grown outdoors through black plastic. Two of the plants gave 10kg between them (these two had more space than the others, so clearly that's the key).
I also have a new purple variety (Erato Violet), which is as-yet untested, so I can't say how good the yield or taste will be. It's growing outside through black plastic, just like the others. The plants are certainly growing strong, though, so hopefully the yield will at least be decent.
I'l send rooted cuttings. When they arrive, stick them in water to perk them up, then pot up (I put two in a 1 litre pot) and put somewhere bright and warm to grow on.
Once colder weather comes, they ideally want overwintering somewhere coolish (10-15) and bright - too warm and they'll grow too much over winter, too cold and they'll die. Having said that, they will cope with colder temperatures as long as you go easy on the water - I overwintered one of mine in my conservatory last year and it went as low as 2c on some nights. They looked a bit worse for wear come spring, but they started growing strongly again when things warmed up.
You can plant these cuttings out as-is next spring, but I find it's better to strike new cuttings from the new growth. Move them somewhere warm in early March and start feeding them. They will quickly put on new growth, and take 4" cuttings from this until you have enough, rooting them in water then potting up once roots have formed (they root ridiculously easily; you should expect a 100% success rate).
Either SAE or a swap (I'm interested in beans for drying, especially Gigantes; mild chillis or interesting sweet peppers; tomatoes that do well outside; pepino seeds; or any unusual fruit or veg seeds).
It's getting time for me to take some sweet potato cuttings to overwinter as small plants for next year's crop, so would anyone else like some?
The variety is T65. Pink skin with white flesh. Heavier cropping than most, and probably your best bet for growing them in this country. I got 21kg from 8 plants last year, grown outdoors through black plastic. Two of the plants gave 10kg between them (these two had more space than the others, so clearly that's the key).
I also have a new purple variety (Erato Violet), which is as-yet untested, so I can't say how good the yield or taste will be. It's growing outside through black plastic, just like the others. The plants are certainly growing strong, though, so hopefully the yield will at least be decent.
I'l send rooted cuttings. When they arrive, stick them in water to perk them up, then pot up (I put two in a 1 litre pot) and put somewhere bright and warm to grow on.
Once colder weather comes, they ideally want overwintering somewhere coolish (10-15) and bright - too warm and they'll grow too much over winter, too cold and they'll die. Having said that, they will cope with colder temperatures as long as you go easy on the water - I overwintered one of mine in my conservatory last year and it went as low as 2c on some nights. They looked a bit worse for wear come spring, but they started growing strongly again when things warmed up.
You can plant these cuttings out as-is next spring, but I find it's better to strike new cuttings from the new growth. Move them somewhere warm in early March and start feeding them. They will quickly put on new growth, and take 4" cuttings from this until you have enough, rooting them in water then potting up once roots have formed (they root ridiculously easily; you should expect a 100% success rate).
Either SAE or a swap (I'm interested in beans for drying, especially Gigantes; mild chillis or interesting sweet peppers; tomatoes that do well outside; pepino seeds; or any unusual fruit or veg seeds).
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