{"id":322,"date":"2022-09-08T12:51:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T12:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/?post_type=product&p=322"},"modified":"2025-08-03T23:27:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T23:27:59","slug":"sweet-potato","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/product\/sweet-potato\/","title":{"rendered":"Sweet potato"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Botanical Name:<\/strong>\u00a0Ipomoea batatas<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some other names:<\/strong>\u00a0Kumara, Yam, Kamote<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How to Grow It<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Sweet Potato\u00a0is a low-growing, scrambling perennial vine<\/b> that can spread over several metres, forming a lush green ground cover. Left unchecked, it will happily creep over beds, fences, and paths<\/b>, rooting wherever the stems touch the soil.<\/p>\r\n

Climate:<\/b> Sweet potato is naturally a subtropical to tropical crop<\/b>, but many gardeners successfully grow it in warm temperate areas<\/b> once frost danger has passed. In cooler regions, it can be grown as a summer annual<\/b> \u2014 it will die back at the first frost, but will often reshoot if the tubers survive in the soil.<\/p>\r\n

Sun & soil:<\/b> Prefers full sun<\/b> for the best tuber yields, but will also wander into part shade<\/b> and still produce. Sweet potatoes thrive in well-drained, deep, fertile soil<\/b> with plenty of organic matter. In my subtropical garden, they\u2019ll grow in just about anything \u2014 the tubers are smaller in poor soil, but the leaf harvest remains abundant.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\r\n

Water & drought tolerance:<\/b> They love moisture during their main growing season<\/b>, but are very drought tolerant <\/b>once established. In fact, they can survive on rainfall alone, slowing their growth in dry periods and bouncing back when the rain comes.<\/p>\r\n

Propagation:<\/b> The easiest way is to plant pieces of tuber<\/b> with at least one \u201ceye\u201d or bud. You can also use tip cuttings<\/b>\u2014 just snip off a healthy vine tip, poke it into soil, and it will root almost instantly in warm weather.<\/p>\r\n

Pots & containers:<\/b> If you want tubers, pots are a bit restrictive – your yields will depend on the size of your container. If you just want a continuous supply of edible leaves and shoots <\/b>(which I absolutely recommend), Sweet Potato will happily grow in large tubs or planters with regular watering and feeding.<\/p>\r\n

Tip:<\/b> Rotate beds or refresh the soil each year with compost and manure if you\u2019re growing for tubers \u2014 otherwise, the yield drops noticeably in the second year.

<\/p>\r\n

Herbal & Nutrient Value<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Sweet Potato is one of the most nutritious survival crops you can grow<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Tubers<\/b> are rich in carbohydrates for energy<\/b>, vitamins A & C<\/b> (great for immunity and skin health), iron<\/b> (good for blood health), and calcium<\/b> (for bones and teeth).<\/li>\r\n
  • Leaves & shoots<\/b> are packed with protein, vitamins A, B & C<\/b>, and minerals \u2014 they\u2019re actually more nutrient-dense than the tubers!<\/b><\/b><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Herbal actions & traditional use:<\/b><\/b><\/p>\r\n

    The leaves<\/b> are used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory food<\/b> and for wound healing<\/b> poultices.
    Sweet Potato is also believed to support eye health<\/b> (thanks to its high beta carotene) and gut health<\/b> (the fibre helps digestion).<\/p>\r\n

    Traditional & Home Remedies

    <\/strong>Sweet Potato Porridge for Convalescence<\/strong> \u2013 cooked with rice and ginger for easy digestion.
    Purple Sweet Potato Tea<\/strong> \u2013 antioxidant-rich infusion from purple-fleshed sweet potatoes.
    Sweet Potato Poultice<\/strong> \u2013 mashed tubers applied to soothe minor burns and skin irritation.

    <\/b><\/b><\/p>\r\n

    Using It in the Kitchen<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

    Sweet Potato is a culinary treat<\/b> \u2014 you can use both the roots and the leaves<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n
    • Tubers:<\/b> Can be baked, roasted, mashed, boiled, steamed, fried, or even grated raw into salads. Their flavour ranges from mild to sweet, depending on the variety.<\/li>\r\n
    • Young leaves & shoots:<\/b> Taste like a mild spinach with a hint of sweetness. Use them fresh or lightly cooked \u2014 they wilt beautifully in stir-fries, soups, and curries.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      Storage tip:<\/b> Store tubers<\/b> in a cool, dry spot (not the fridge) for weeks, even months. Leaves should be used fresh \u2014 they don\u2019t keep well.

      <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      \"\"\r\n
      Delicious and nutritious harvest of Sweet potato

      <\/em><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      Simple recipe ideas<\/b><\/p>\r\n

      – Sweet Potato Wedges:<\/b> Toss chunks with olive oil, garlic, and salt, then roast until crispy.
      – Sweet Potato Leaf Stir-Fry:<\/b> Flash-fry young leaves and shoots with garlic and soy for a quick side dish.
      – Sweet Potato Mash:<\/b> Boil tubers, mash with butter and a pinch of nutmeg for a warming comfort food.
      – Tropical Leaf Omelette:<\/b> Add chopped sweet potato leaves at the last minute to an omelette \u2014 bright green, mild, and delicious.
      – Sweet Potato & Chickpea Curry:<\/b> Add cubed tubers to a coconut curry for a filling, hearty meal.

      <\/p>\r\n

      Other Uses<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
        \r\n
      • Animal fodder:<\/b> All parts of the plant are edible for animals \u2014 chickens, goats, and pigs love the leaves and vines.<\/li>\r\n
      • Mulch & soil cover:<\/b> The sprawling vines work as a living mulch<\/b>, shading the ground, suppressing weeds, and preventing erosion.<\/li>\r\n
      • Soil improver:<\/b> When cut back, the vines and leaves can be chopped up for green manure<\/b> or compost, feeding your soil for the next crop.

        <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

        Why it\u2019s a survival plant:<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

        Sweet Potato is one of the most resilient and giving plants you can grow<\/b>. It provides two crops in one<\/b> \u2014 starchy tubers for long-term energy and tender leaves for daily greens. It tolerates heat, dry spells, and neglect, and once it\u2019s established, it\u2019s\u00a0you’ve got it for good \u2014 <\/b>which is exactly what you want in a survival garden.<\/b><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Sweet Potato is a sprawling perennial vine<\/b> that offers the best of both worlds \u2014 nutritious, starchy tubers beneath the soil and tender, spinach-like leaves above. Hardy, versatile, and almost once it\u2019s settled in, you’ve got it for good. iI\u2019s one of the ultimate survival crops for warm climates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":176,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":100,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":""},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[39,40,41,42,45,46],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-322","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-drought-resistant-plants","7":"product_cat-high-nutrition-plants","8":"product_cat-mulch-plants","9":"product_cat-pot-and-container-plants","10":"product_cat-soups-and-curries","11":"product_cat-stir-fry-plants","13":"first","14":"instock","15":"shipping-taxable","16":"product-type-simple"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/322","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=322"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=322"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=322"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}