sweet potatoes in a greenhouse

[bikermike]

After saying I wouldn't bother after a few years of rubbish, I bought some beauregard in the garden centre. Cheaper to buy plants than slips this time (not per unit, but as slips only come in biggish packs).

Anyway, I had some shop-bought ones sprout last year and put them in the greenhouse to the result of lots of foliage and no sweet potatoes...


The year before I grew slips outside with much the same result.
The instructions had lots about the need for warm soil, hence the greenhouse.

I'm planning to grow in the greenhouse this year, in a pea planter (call it 30x30x60cm - like this https://www.tts-group.co.uk/pea-and-...All%20Products without the frames on it). Will that be enough space for successful root growth?

[Jay-ell]

First year I grew them was in a potato bag in the greenhouse and managed to get a few the thickness of a thin pencil.

Last year I grew them outside and did manage to get a few small tubers. Two of which I have growing in pots and are going to be planted into the borders of the greenhouse next week (I have already planted one out into the pepper and tomato side)

On a brighter side the leaves are edible so if you harvest the tips (this should encourage side shoots to grow) you can at least have a harvest.

[MarkPelican]

I grew them a couple of years ago in a potato bag in the greenhouse. I stood the bag in a large tray so that I could keep it well watered and I got three or four decent sized tubers. Then I saw what somebody had harvested from their allotment in New Zealand and decided not to bother again.

[greenishfing]

I have attempted them a few times with mixed results. My eventual verdict.......waste of space.

[annie8]

Disaster for me when I tried it. Not doing that again.

[Small pumpkin]

I grew one last year in a large tub ( 80lt +), in the polytunnel. I got one proper sized one and lots of thick pencil ( more maker pen ) sized ones. Which were perfect pre cut chip size. I'll definitely be having another go at growing one in the future. Not this year though.

[Mudsweatandtea]

I tried them last year, with a Beauregard i picked up in the garden center, in a very large tub in the greenhouse. Beautiful plants but really wasn't worth it for the piddly crop at £4.99 a plant. There were a few skinny tubers -more like dandelion roots- and a couple the diameter of a golf ball and about twice as long. I did try overwintering some vine cuttings (maybe get my moneys worth) in the house which went well until i potted them in January and they all died. Maybe i will try them in a couple of years on the allotment but for the space i can devote at present they just don't pay their way.