Sweet Potato Bonita - Ipomoea batatas

The Bonita sweet potato is an early and productive variety, producing tubers with a pinkish-purple skin and white flesh. The sweet potato is a root vegetable native to South America. Its elongated tuber with a slightly sweet taste can be cooked like a potato. The plant's foliage is highly decorative. The plug plants of this variety can be planted from April to June, after the last frost, in open ground, under cover or in pots, depending on the climate. Harvesting can be done from September to November.

Standing at only about twenty centimeters tall, this perennial plant can spread over several meters wide thanks to its long creeping stems. Belonging to the Convolvulaceae family and the Ipomoea genus, it has highly decorative foliage. Some varieties have been selected for their foliage and can be grown in gardens as ornamental plants, such as Ipomoea Illusion Midnight Lace or Ipomoea Sweet Heart Purple.

Vegetable varieties produce elongated tubers with flesh colors ranging from white, yellow, orange to purple. This exotic plant requires heat and water to thrive. It can be planted in open ground in regions with hot summers. In cooler regions, opt for growing it under cover or in pots.

In terms of cooking, sweet potatoes can be prepared like regular potatoes (mashed, gratins, etc.). Their sweet taste also makes them suitable for desserts such as cakes, pies, or jams. The edible leaves can be cooked and consumed like spinach. Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin B6, and minerals such as copper and manganese.

Harvesting: Sweet potatoes are short-day plants. Tuber formation starts in September-October when the foliage turns yellow. Just before harvesting, cut the foliage. Gently dig up the tubers with a 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. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from light.

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