Sweet Potato Beauregard - Ipomoea batatas

The organic Beauregard sweet potato is a variety that produces tubers with a pinkish skin and orange flesh of excellent taste. It has an elongated shape and a slightly sweet flavor that is very pleasant in the mouth. This root vegetable is cooked like a potato. Young sweet potatoes are planted from April to June, after the last frost, in open ground, under cover or in pots, depending on the climate. Harvesting takes place from September to November.

The young plants come from organic farming and have received the AB certification.

The sweet potato, known as Ipomoea batatas in Latin, is a perennial plant with swollen tubers native to South America. Standing only about twenty centimeters tall, it can spread several meters wide thanks to its long creeping stems. Belonging to the family of Convolvulaceae and the genus of Ipomoea, it has very decorative foliage. Some varieties have been selected for their foliage and can be grown in gardens as ornamental plants, such as the Illusion Midnight Lace or the Sweet Heart Purple Ipomoea.

Vegetable varieties produce large elongated tubers with flesh colors ranging from white, yellow, orange, to purple. This tropical plant needs warmth and water to thrive. It can be planted in open ground in regions with hot summers, with abundant watering in summer. In cooler regions, opt for cultivation under cover or in pots.

In terms of cooking, sweet potatoes can be prepared like regular potatoes (mashed, gratin, soups, fries, chips, etc.). Their sweet taste also allows them to be used in desserts such as cakes, pies, or jams. The edible leaves can be consumed like spinach. Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin B6, and minerals (copper and manganese).

Harvesting: sweet potatoes are short-day plants. Tuber formation begins in September-October when the foliage turns yellow. Just before harvesting, cut the foliage. Gently dig out the tubers with a garden fork, taking care not to damage them. Let them dry in the sun for a few hours. Harvesting should be completed before the first frost.

Storage: sweet potatoes can be stored like regular potatoes. Store them in a cool, dry place away from light.

Gardener's tip: Although the plant provides cover, mulch the soil to keep it moist and reduce weed growth, especially at the beginning of the cultivation.