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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: gp.girl on June 17, 2011, 21:45:20

Title: Sweet potato
Post by: gp.girl on June 17, 2011, 21:45:20
Bought some, got home and thought 'do slugs eat them?' because if they do I've just bought some very expensive slug food  >:(

Will they work in a mini greenhouse or better outside on a shelter patio?
Title: Re: Sweet potato
Post by: manicscousers on June 17, 2011, 22:34:15
Funny, when I think about it, we grew these for a few years and I can't remember any slug damage. we grew them in the polytunnel, they do need a bit of a warm summer, Saddad is the best for advice on these, he grew a huge one in the greenhouse  ;D
Title: Re: Sweet potato
Post by: gp.girl on June 18, 2011, 07:28:01
I need a greenhouse and space to put it  :(

Oh well, will have to try harder.....
Title: Re: Sweet potato
Post by: saddad on June 18, 2011, 22:31:05
I was talking to a group in Leicestershire... and one woman said she got a good crop with a manure/soil ridged bed covered in black plastic... I've tried the plastic method but only got very thin tubers...

Slugs don't home in on them... but they will nibble out of curiosity. I'd make a ridge, cover it in black plastic for a week to warm the soil and plant through it. Presumably you have potted up the slips.. or bought as plants..

The giant Manics refer to is when it was very dry... that one was by the watering point and got it all...  :-[
Title: Re: Sweet potato
Post by: cambourne7 on June 18, 2011, 22:50:35
I have mine in a planting bag having never had any success with them in the ground.

Good luck :)