Sweet potatoes in a growbag grow strongly! Added fertilizer and soil

It was June that I planted two seedings of “BENI-HARUKA“, a variety of Japanese sweet potato in a growbag. It has been about a month, and I added fertilizer and soil in July.

This year 2020, the rainy season finally ended in August. In July, the duration of sunshine was very short. The sweet potatoes who love sunshine, had felt gloomy for a long period of time.

However, they are growing well!

In June, when I just planted

The sweet potatoes were looking out shyly from the growbag.

One month passed, it looks like this

The sweet potatoes grow leaves and leaves on my narrow balcony. I can no longer see the growbag from outside.

Even if the foliage and the vine grow, we can save space by placing the growbag higher on the shelf. It is also good for securing the sunlight and ventilation. So, even in my narrow balcony, sweet potatoes can live well.

When is the best timing for topdressing?

The timing for topdressing is about one month later after planting, when you find some yellow leaves.

Be careful not to give too much fertilizer. It may result in so called “TSURU-BOKE” in Japan, only leaves grow and less sweet potatoes. Topdressing is only once throughout the cultivation period.

When adding fertilizer, also add soil

When we do topdressing, we add soil, too.

After a month from planting, the soil decrease a little. Adding soil to the extent that would not overflow from the growbag gives positive effect to make big sweet potatoes. They are root vegetable, soil is essential.

Mixed one table spoon of chemical fertilizer, I added leaf soil over the root. That’s it, for adding fertilizer and soil.

Moving aside the lots of leaves and I looked into the roots. It was surprisingly simple! Only a few thick vines coming out, that grow all the leaves.

August of extreme heat has just begun!

Sweet potatoes love the sun and are well tolerant of the heat. However in the afternoon, when the direct sunlight shines straight, the leaves become like withered.

They may be protecting themselves from harsh sunlight acting like this.

The sweet potatoes regain energy and the leaves become fresh again after the sun is set. It is a very strong plant.

Give plenty of water when the soil surface becomes dry. I watered about once every 2-3 days during the rainy season but in summer, now I do it every other day or even every day when it is hot and dry.

Time to water is either early morning or evening. Watering in hot weather will damage the roots by hot water. Wait until the time that it becomes cooler, even though sweet potatoes look withered.

Just wait for the autumn harvest

So, in October, I’m looking forward digging potatoes in my balcony!