I planted seedings of sweet potatoes in a bag! In autumn, can dig on the balcony

This has been the 5th year since I grow sweet potatoes on the balcony every year. Sweet potato is surprisingly suitable for balcony gardening as it is tough, dry-tolerant, doesn’t bring insect, doesn’t require time and effort.

From now on, I will make it through the hot summer with sweet potatoes until October, the harvest timing.

In autumn, when I dig sweet potatoes on the balcony, there is a special excitement. The result that I grew is all in the bag. “How many sweet potatoes are in there?” It is a lot of fun to dig with a great expectation! (Every year around five to six are in there)

Sweet potatoes grow with surprisingly lots of leaves and vines, so some space is required. However, if the bag is put in a higher position to secure the sun light, vines extend downwards. Therefore it is manageable even on my small balcony. I usually put the planted bag on a high shelf.

Every year, I choose the variety called ‘BENI-HARUKA” (BENI means red and Haruka is a female’s name in Japanese) . Its rather smaller size is perfect to bake in the grill of gas stove. The baked ‘BENI-HARUKA’ tastes sweet and moist. When I buy sweet potatoes at supermarket, I always choose ‘BENI-HARUKA’.

In mid May, the reservation of seedings begins at JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives) direct stores. The seedings are vines cut from seed sweet potatoes so they will soon fade and its color will deteriorate. That’s why a farmer delivers the fresh-cut seedings to the store on the day of reservation.  Seeding stores in Kanagawa | Find your closest JA store

In early June, I went to pick up the seedings reserved and planted them at once. As sweet potatoes prefer well-drained soil, red granular soil (Akadama-tsuchi) is to be added. Add 50% of leaf soil, 50% of red granular soil, half the amount of chemical fertilizer, one small shovel scoop of beef manure and some sprinkles of insecticide for scarab’s larva. Mix all well.

If potting mix is used, fertilizer is not required as it is already included. When sweet potatoes are fed with too much fertilizer, they grow only leaves and less sweet potatoes. This is so called ‘TSURU-BOKE” in Japan (TSURU means vine and BOKE means fool). So, let’s give less fertilizer.

I planted two seedings facing each other, using the 40 liter plastic bag of leaf soil as it is. If the seedings are inserted into the soil vertically, it is said that it would bring big sweet potatoes but in less number and if inserted horizontally like the bottom of a boat, it would bring more numbers but in small size. Every year I plant them like ‘the bottom of the boat’, because small size is better to make it fit in the grill for making baked sweet potato.

Place the bag and make several halls at the lower for drainage using something like disposable chopsticks.

Soon after planting, the seedings become wilt and look withered, but it is OK. It takes about a week to get rooted and sit up. Until that time, give water every morning and evening.

Well, that’s kind of all I have to do. Vines and leafs will soon spread all over by themselves. After rooted, it is not necessary to give water every day as too much water would spoil young sweet potatoes in growing. It depends but once every other day would be enough. After one month from planting seedings and when you find a few yellow leaves, add some sprinkles of chemical fertilizer. Then just wait until October for harvesting.

On the same balcony, I grow sweet potatoes from June to October and strawberries from October to June. The soil used for sweet potatoes can also be used for strawberries after being exposed and dried in the sun and being sifted. A perfect rotation!

Well well, I’m looking forward to being with you for next 6 month . (To sweet potatoes)