Sweet potatoes are among the crops normally grown in every part of Kenya. Sweet potato vines are the main planting material preferred by Kenyans. But how are sweet potato vines planted? This blog explains how to grow sweet potato vines:
1. Choose a Location
When choosing a location to plant your sweet potato vines, make sure to choose an area that gets plenty of sunlight. Sweet potatoes need at least six hours of sunlight each day to grow properly. If you live in an area with hot summers, it’s best to choose a spot that gets some afternoon shade to prevent the leaves from getting too scorched by the sun. The temperature should be warm with a soil PH of 5.6 to 6.6.
2. Prepare the Soil
Once you’ve chosen a location, it’s time to prepare the soil. This includes clearing any debris, tilling the soil, and adding compost or manure. Sweet potatoes prefer loose, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter. If your soil is heavy or clay-like, consider amending it with some compost or peat moss to help loosen it up. Note that planting of sweet potatoes is done during the onset of short rains or at the end of long rains in one season.
3. Prepare the Tubers
Sweet potato vines are typically started from tubers, which are the edible part of the plant. You can get sweet potato vines from the farmers who buy certified seeds from bodies like KARI in Kenya. The vines are obtained by cutting from the established crop before or after harvesting the tuber.
In an acre of land, sweet potato farmers will need about 11,000 cuttings of vines in Kenya. The cuttings are then stored for 1 to 2 days in humid conditions before planting to promote rooting at the nodes for easier establishment when planted.
4. Prepare Planting Mounds
Sweet potato vines are to be planted on ridges or mounds at an angle with the vine ends toward the centre of the ridge. At the time of planting, ridges are dug 1 m apart and 10 to 15 cm from one ridge to another. In single row cutting, vines are planted in the middle of the ridge, 30cm between plants within the rows. With the double rows, they are planted on opposite sides at 30 cm between plants within the rows and 50 to 60 cm between rows.
5. Planting Tubers
The vine cuttings are cut at a length of 25 to 30 cm, which is apical. Long lengths tend to waste material, and short ones give low yields and establish slowly. One-half to two-thirds of the vines are placed beneath the soil at a depth of 4 to 6 cm.
6. Mulch Around the Plant
Mulching around your sweet potato vine will help keep the soil moist and discourage weeds. A layer of straw or hay 2-3 inches thick should suffice.
7. Water Regularly
Sweet potatoes need to be watered regularly, especially during hot, dry weather. They prefer evenly moist soil, so water deeply and regularly rather than sporadically. Be careful not to overwater, however, as this can lead to root rot.
8. Apply Fertilizer Regularly
Sweet potatoes are heavy feeders and will need to be fertilized every few weeks during the growing season. A balanced fertilizer like 17:17:17 may be a good option. Apply the fertilizer according to the package directions.
9. Weed Control
The first weeding is done after two weeks and the second weeding is done after another two weeks, after which earthing up is done.
10. Harvest the Tubers
Sweet potatoes take 3 to 6 months to grow to maturity, depending on the variety and environmental conditions. However, Kenyan farmers prefer varieties that mature in 3 months in short rains and long rains that mature in 6 months.
To check if they’re ready, simply dig around the plant and see if the tubers are a good size. If they are ready, carefully pull them from the soil.
11. Storage
After harvesting, sweet potato tubers are stored in crates or sacks. With good management and the type of sweet potato, a farmer can yield an average ranging between 15 to 30 tonnes per acre. Store them in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to sell them.
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