Sweet potato: features, cultivation and application

It happens that the usual food bothers and you want something unusual, exotic. Not so long ago, one could only dream of tropical crops from distant lands, but today you can buy some of them in the supermarket. However, many enterprising summer residents have gone even further and grow unusual vegetables and fruits on their own. Sweet potato also belongs to crops that take root well even in our conditions and have an unusual and pleasant taste.

A feature of sweet potato is also the fact that it is not sold anywhere in our country, so it is simply necessary to try to grow it yourself.

In our country, this vegetable is still very little known, but in hot countries, sweet potato is almost the fundamental food crop. The best description for it is its second name - sweet potato, which roughly explains what should happen in the end. The product, whose homeland is considered to be South and Central America, is also widely distributed today in Africa and some regions of Asia, and recently it has begun to gradually conquer domestic beds.

Despite the fact that sweet potato resembles potatoes to our compatriots, judging by the numerous reviews and the semi-official second name, in fact, these crops are not completely relatives. Sweet potato belongs to the bindweed - in our country only weeds grow from this family.In tropical conditions, the plant is a full-fledged liana, but a thickening of the root turns out to be a nutritious and tasty ingredient for many dishes, which probably reminded the Europeans of the usual potato.

Local summer residents grow such a root crop not only for a change, but simply because the choice in favor of this crop promises numerous advantages and benefits.

Sweet potato is relatively unpretentious - he, like his relatives, could be considered a weed if he had no practical use. It grows very easily, thanks to which it does not require treatment with chemicals, and this is a saving of time, effort and money, not to mention the fact that as a result, health will be healthier. Moreover, most typical potato pests are completely indifferent to a bed with an exotic root crop. Of course, the culture can be fed a little, in addition, in some cases it can still be damaged by small fauna that does not specialize in specific plant species, but such cases are isolated, and the damage is usually very small.

Such a root crop does not have seeds - it reproduces in much the same way as potatoes, that is, by sprouts. The infection of future plants in this case is minimal, and the probability of degeneration is also extremely small.

Sweet potatoes, which are native to hot countries, tolerate the summer heat very well, unlike most crops popular here.True, from intense heat, the plant begins to expend more energy on growth, which is why the harvest is not so impressive, but the problem can be solved by mulching or covering the soil.

You need to understand that in the regions of origin of the product, the climate is usually quite humid, because the plant requires regular watering, especially in the heat.. For a good harvest, it is also recommended to fertilize the soil, but ordinary organic fertilizers will do. However, already in the second year of cultivation, this will not become a problem, since the dense aerial part left over from the previous planting can be used as a fertilizer.

Sweet potato is one of the few foods that not only diversifies the diet as a whole, but can even diversify itself. The fact is that several varieties are hidden behind the common name, which are not very similar to each other either in the shape of the leaves, or in color, or in taste. For example, the unusual purple flesh does not taste that much different from ordinary potatoes, but it is considered very useful for vision and slowing down the aging process, and also prevents the development of cancer.

Sweet lovers will surely like the orange pulp, as it has a characteristic aftertaste with fruity notes, and is also rich in carotene, which is very useful for vision. White and cream colors are considered classic for the pulp, such a sweet potato will occupy an intermediate position between the varieties described above.

It must be said that in fact, the aerial part of the plant is also occasionally used as a food product, which, judging by the reviews, tastes a bit like spinach.Some lovers of such delicacies specifically sprout sweet potatoes on the windowsill at any time of the year in order to always have fresh herbs on hand.

For any modern food product, it is important to be not only tasty, but also useful. Sweet potato refers specifically to such crops, because it is natural in origin, and even does not require the use of chemicals in the growing process.

Most of all, such a product is valued for its high content of potassium and calcium. In addition, the vegetable is very rich in vitamins A and C, according to the content of which it belongs to the absolute leaders. It should be recalled that both of these vitamins are considered to slow down aging and prevent many age-related diseases.

As befits a plant product, sweet potato roots are classified as diet food - 100 grams of such food contains approximately 86 kcal. However, this point, of course, depends on how the sweet potato was prepared, since the indicated figure refers to the raw product. In the same raw root crop, about 20% are carbohydrates with completely absent sugar, the amount of proteins barely reaches 1.5%, and there are practically no fats.

The beneficial properties of sweet potatoes are very numerous, so its use can be recommended to almost every person.

Perhaps the most striking benefit of eating sweet potatoes is the visual rejuvenation of the skin. This is due to beta-carotene, which in the human body turns into vitamin A - even a small amount of a root crop can give a person the daily rate of this substance.Saturation of the body with beta-carotene leads to a decrease in the number of free radicals, and also promotes the production of collagen, due to which wrinkles disappear, and the skin becomes smooth and radiant.

Despite the sweet taste of many varieties, sweet potato has a relatively low glycemic index - so much so that it is not even forbidden to be eaten by diabetics, for whom such a solution may be almost the only possible dessert. The most interesting thing is that the carotenoids present in the root crop also increase the body's sensitivity to insulin, further protecting the diabetic.

Sweet root carefully takes care of the state of the cardiovascular system. This is manifested primarily due to the cleansing of blood from excess cholesterol, which is facilitated by the high content of fiber and vitamin B6 in the product. Other notable results of regular consumption of sweet potatoes are reduced pressure, increased elasticity of the arteries, and adjusted water balance in the body.

Sweet potato is rich in numerous components that help fight various inflammations. These substances include the already mentioned vitamins C and B6, as well as beta-carotene and manganese. The anti-inflammatory properties of the root crop are especially pronounced against the background of inflammation of the brain and nervous tissue.

Sweet potatoes have the ability to significantly increase blood clotting. This means that in the event of a serious injury, the likelihood of excessive blood loss is reduced, and in fact this phenomenon is often more dangerous than the wound itself. Experts say that sweet potato also contributes to faster healing of wounds.

The high content of potassium in sweet potato leads to the fact that this product belongs to the antidepressants of natural origin. The lack of the described trace element in the body is usually accompanied by such negative phenomena as constant fatigue and unreasonable anxiety, as well as excessive irritability. The problem is also expressed in muscle spasms, which in themselves can cause irritation. You can not suffer and not even drink chemicals, but just eat sweet potatoes, and everything will pass.

The components found in sweet potato roots can fight chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis, which is a common aging problem.

While with ulcers and gastritis, most products are contraindicated for the patient, sweet potato is not only allowed for consumption, but also contributes to a noticeable reduction in symptoms. Calcium, potassium and numerous vitamins contribute to the speedy recovery of the affected tissues of the digestive tract, and also relieve inflammation, reducing discomfort. Fiber, which makes up a significant percentage of sweet potato pulp, "distracts" excess stomach acid, preventing it from acting on irritated walls of the stomach and intestines, and also has a mild laxative effect.

Sweet potato will not help to get rid of such a bad habit as smoking, but it will help reduce the destructive effect of tobacco smoke on the body.Typical for smokers is a lack of vitamin A, which often leads to specific diseases that affect not only smokers themselves, but also those who are unlucky enough to be around regularly. Sweet potatoes contain a huge amount of this vitamin, thereby reducing the likelihood of getting sick with emphysema.

To increase muscle mass, there are few foods that are as useful as sweet potatoes. First of all, it is good for its high content of carbohydrates, which energize the body and allow you to be more active in training. At the same time, the significant presence of potassium in this vegetable reduces the negative effects in the form of pain and spasms, so that the training can be made even longer.

With all its many advantages, sweet potato is also good because everyone can use it, and it is practically not capable of causing any harm to the human body. Fears are caused only by the oxalates present in the root crop - substances that can accelerate the process of stone formation in the urinary tract.

The varietal classification of sweet potato is very confusing, the reason for which is also the fact that we have one division into varieties, and in other countries it is completely different. No one is engaged in the world classification of root varieties, therefore, in different regions, an almost identical tuber can be called completely differently.Although the classification is very conditional, it is still worth highlighting several popular varieties - these include, say, Hut Bay and Pobeda-100, Vir-85 and Salmon, Nancy Hall with pumpkin flavor or "He-dong" with a peculiar chestnut flavor.

For example, the most popular classification system for sweet potatoes is the division into groups by purpose:

1. dessert varieties enjoy maximum success among gourmets, as they have a very pleasant taste and aroma. Their pulp is densely saturated with juice, due to which it is characterized by softness and sweetness. Such a product is widely used for the preparation of sweet dishes.
2. Forage varieties characterized by opposite qualities - they are hard and dry, they do not differ in any special taste. The cultivation of such a sweet potato is suitable for use as pet food.
3. So called vegetable varieties occupy a conditionally intermediate position between the two described above. They are pleasant in taste, but at the same time they do not have the characteristic increased sweetness of dessert varieties. It was the vegetable varieties of sweet potato that prompted the Europeans to think of a relationship with potatoes.

There is another classification of varieties - depending on what grows more actively, the roots or the aerial part. Throughout the world, they traditionally try to grow "root" varieties, since the main food product is precisely the thickening of the root. However, varieties with a developed above-ground structure are sometimes also appropriate - they are used as an ornamental plant, for animal feed, as compost for other crops, or in food instead of spinach.

Different varieties differ in a good dozen other traits, including the color and density of the peel or pulp, the shape of the foliage, yield per bush and fruit size. It should be said that the weight of one sweet potato, depending on the variety, can differ fundamentally - there are roots of both 200 grams and 10 kilograms, although both options are relatively rare.

Reproduction of the plant occurs due to the germination of root tubers, therefore, without at least one copy of the root crop, it will not be possible to establish your own plantation. Experts do not advise taking a sweet potato purchased in a supermarket (if you still find one) as a starting copy - the fact is that a store-bought vegetable is probably treated with a growth inhibitor in order to maintain a food appearance. It is unlikely that it will be possible to grow a seedling from such a root, and if it does, you will have to suffer a lot.

Like potatoes, sweet potatoes germinate in warm and damp conditions. The minimum temperature for the appearance of sprouts is considered to be 20 degrees, although 25 and even 30 would be much more useful.

With conscious germination, the root crop is usually placed in a special container that would be able to place the tuber with some space - it's easier to maintain the necessary humidity. The pot is filled according to the following scheme: drainage is necessarily placed at the bottom, then 10-15 cm of ordinary earth are poured, and sand is poured on top of several centimeters, although the latter, according to many experts, is no longer so important.

The tuber is buried or simply pressed into the ground so that about half remains outside. Given the shape of most utensils and most tubers, it is easiest to bury the root crop in an upright position, but then it is important to understand how it grew in the ground before. The fact is that new sprouts will appear only from above, and roots will begin to sprout from below, and if you bury the sweet potato in an unnatural position, it may not germinate.

The tuber will wake up and sprout immediately - this is affected by both the variety of the sweet potato and the conditions under which it was stored. So, frozen sweet potatoes will germinate much longer. In general, 10-14 days are usually given for the appearance of buds, and only after 2-2.5 weeks will real shoots appear suitable for subsequent planting. At the same time, orange varieties of sweet potato, which are distinguished by the softest and most delicious pulp, are at the same time the most demanding on conditions - they often require all 27 degrees for germination.

If everything is done correctly, but the sprouts do not appear for a long time, or you just want to speed up this process, you can resort to a few tricks. The simplest thing is regular watering not just with water, but with hot water, although it is important not to overdo it, otherwise the vegetable will be scalded. Alternatively, you can simply stretch the film over the ground, building a small greenhouse, but then you will have to regularly ventilate the plant, otherwise the appearance of the fungus cannot be avoided.

The exact time for the transformation of small sprouts on a root crop into a full-fledged seedling depends on the way in which that same seedling will be grown. At home, if there is enough space on the windowsills, and the summer resident is not lazy, you can transplant each confident sprout into a separate container.This is done, as a rule, if there are relatively few sweet potatoes for seedlings, as a result of careful care, each plant will produce more yield over time. In this case, it is desirable that the sprouts be ready for planting in separate containers as early as February.

If there is not much space at home, you can cut the finished sprouts one by one and root them in cups of water, after which they can be planted immediately in open ground. In this case, the sprouts should be ready for cutting no earlier than mid-March, but usually no later than the end of April. It should be noted that it is undesirable to overexpose the sprouts in the water - you need to try so that they stay there for no more than a week or two, and by the end of this period it was already quite warm outside.

When planting in open ground, it is imperative to remove the so-called root beard, otherwise the crop will be rather unsightly. Regardless of the exact method of seedling germination, it is desirable to plant in open ground in several stages as individual specimens are ready.

Separately, it should be said about how to determine the moment when the sprout can already be cut from the parent root crop, since this is where the experiment on growing sweet potatoes often ends. A sprout ready for independent life must meet several important requirements - for example, have five of its own leaves and internodes, and also be at least 10 cm in length.

It is highly undesirable to break off a sprout - it is better to use a sharp, antiseptic-treated knife to prevent possible infection of the plant. Pruning is not done “at the root”, but leaving a small “stump” with young buds - it can give rise to a new sprout. Breaking off causes the root crop to grow new buds, which is long and difficult. At the same time, along with the sprout, a small piece of the parent root crop can also break off, which is even worse - the young plant will spend all its strength on restoring this piece to the size of the whole. They break the sprouts only with their abundance, which interferes with the growth of each individual specimen.

The separated sprout must be deprived of several lower leaves and placed in a bowl of water - so it will take root faster. Sweet potato, deprived of such a sprout in the correct way, will not suffer and will give new sprouts, the total number of which can reach tens of pieces.

Experts recommend that before planting in the ground, they also harden the sprout. At home, on the windowsill, sweet potato does not come close to the conditions that await it outside. As a result, even the heat that is completely normal and familiar to this culture can be a risk factor, since the plant has time to adapt within four walls to the fact that there is no great heat. As a result, an unhardened plant in sunlight quickly burns and may die. The same applies to the wind, so a young sprout, whether it is in a pot or a container with water to form roots, should be periodically taken outside in order to accustom it to unusual conditions. Here it is important not to overexpose the sprout in extreme conditions, otherwise it will not be able to get used to, but it will die very quickly.Although sweet potato belongs to tropical plants, even in our southern zone, the heat for it can be excessive at first.

However, the above procedure for gardening is very typical, but ground hardening is much less common. Since sweet potato is a completely non-native culture, this type of hardening is also worth using. For this purpose, earth taken from the future garden is added to the container with the sprouted sprout - this further minimizes possible risks.

Sweet potatoes are planted in the garden in the form of specially prepared ridges. This agrotechnical structure is a soil elevation about 10-25 cm high, covered from the outside with straw, film or agrofibre. The comb itself is formed both manually and by a cultivator, while watering is carried out either through holes in a waterproof film, or over the entire surface, if the nature of the mulch allows water to pass through.

Although this method of growing is more expensive in terms of finances, and even requires additional efforts, its use provides a lot of advantages:

• thanks to a certain elevation of the bed above the surrounding garden, it is much easier and without damage to extract a crop that in some places reaches 35 cm in length;
• the soil warms up from all sides, which is very important in our cool climate;
• possible scatter of the crop due to this form of beds is minimized;
• the use of mulch cover is an additional factor in the fight against potential weeds;
• this shape of the bed allows you to save water, so you can water sweet potatoes less often.

Since sweet potato is a heat-loving crop, it should be planted only when the threat of frost has completely passed.Since conditions differ in different regions, you can focus on the flowering of acacia: it has blossomed - it's time to plant sweet potatoes. Landing is done in the morning or in the evening, but not in the afternoon, while the sprouts are planted not strictly vertically, but at a slight angle, having previously straightened the roots. The average depth of penetration is several centimeters - up to the bottom leaflet.

The planted plant is watered with two glasses of water, in which top dressing or medicines for potential infection like phytosporin can be dissolved.

On the one hand, sweet potato grows well even on its own, on the other hand, if you want a good harvest, you should work on this moment. For example, it was already mentioned above that a bed raised above the ground should be mulched. For these purposes, straw, which is a 100% natural material, is best suited, but it can also be replaced with film or agrofibre. Experts massively advise giving preference to agrofibre as a material that, in principle, is more focused on agricultural needs.

It is acceptable to plant sweet potatoes without any mulch at all, but then the scale of the necessary care will increase markedly - you will have to actively water the plant and weed the beds, and it will also be more difficult to harvest. Alternatively, sweet potato without mulch can be grown by running it over specially installed trellises - this is a vine that tends to curl.

Sweet potatoes are not too prone to diseases or pests, but preventive measures can do the trick. It is best to plant plants where beans and mustard have grown for several years before. If the advice caught your eye too late, you can correct the situation by pouring bean pods or mustard powder into the soil, the latter being carefully mixed with the soil. Even when planting, you should fertilize the bed with compost or ash, and Rembek, which effectively fights a few possible pests, will not hurt either.

In all other respects, care is similar to similar measures aimed at increasing the yield of other garden crops - weeding, watering moderately, conducting preventive examinations for diseases, and making the necessary feeding. As for the latter, at first phosphorus and nitrogen are especially in demand - without them, the formation of a root crop simply will not take place. Around the end of summer, the root crop begins to ripen, and in order for the crop to command respect for the size of each individual root, the garden bed should be fertilized with potassium.

During the entire growing process, periodic feedings can be carried out, especially if the plant gives signals that it is lacking in certain elements. As organic complex fertilizers, even manure or ash tincture will fit.

The timing of digging up the crop depends on local climatic conditions - it is known that sweet potato is absolutely undesirable to freeze in the ground. In the southern strip, it is usually dug up no later than September.A characteristic sign of the need to harvest is the massive yellowing of the leaves. In the process of collecting, care should be taken - you need to dig carefully so as not to cut the delicate roots, which are so fragile that you should not even throw them on the ground. Violation of the described rules will lead to the fact that the vegetable will not lie for a long time. Already in the process of digging, medium sweet potatoes can be set aside from fertile bushes for subsequent reproduction.

Interestingly, before eating, it is desirable to cure sweet potato from microtraumas that it inevitably receives during the collection process. To do this, it is washed, and then dried and stored at room temperature for at least 15 days, until the root crop begins to germinate. Germination indicates that the vegetable is in good condition and can be stored for a very long time. Those specimens that are planned for subsequent reproduction should be immediately disinfected by keeping them in a non-concentrated solution of potassium permanganate or by treating them with special chemicals.

Long-term storage of sweet potatoes planned for human consumption is possible at a temperature of 10 to 20 degrees Celsius, and if this figure is exceeded, germination is very likely. Vegetables selected specifically for further propagation are stored at a temperature of 15 degrees, otherwise it will be difficult to “wake them up” in the future.

It's not enough just to grow sweet potatoes - you also need to know how to cook them. On the one hand, the most common cooking methods usually duplicate those used for cooking ordinary potatoes, on the other hand, the unusual taste of sweet potato can be revealed more fully.You can experiment endlessly, but we will focus mainly on popular and relatively simple cooking recipes. We’ll clarify right away that, with all the analogies with potatoes, sweet potato reaches readiness much faster.

In most countries of the world where sweet potato grows, the most popular variety is the baked vegetable. The simplest method is to simply wash the root crop and wrap it in foil, and then keep it in the oven until tender. You can add nothing to such a culinary delight, but you can experiment with adding various spices to taste. In many countries of the world, such a delicacy is a national snack.

You can also bake sweet potatoes more sophisticated, for example, on a fire - then the vegetable turns out “with smoke”. Sweet potatoes are also baked in the same oven, but already in slices, the thickness of which should not exceed 2 cm, and you can cut both along and across. The slices are laid out on a baking sheet greased with any vegetable oil, flavored with seasonings and baked for about 15-20 minutes when heated to 200 degrees. Almost any spices are acceptable - most often it is hot pepper (with a preference for black), salt and rosemary, basil and turmeric, cumin and various mixtures of herbs.

Roasted sweet potatoes are another great treat. There are no special features here - it is fried like an ordinary potato, only a little faster. The dish goes well with garlic, herbs and black pepper, as well as other hot spices.

From sweet potato, you can also prepare multi-colored mashed potatoes, the shade of which depends on the color of the pulp of the selected root crop. It is prepared in the same way as usual, with the difference that sweet potato, unlike ordinary potatoes, is not cooked whole, but cut into medium-sized cubes.

Unlike our potatoes, sweet potatoes, especially sweet varieties, are quite usable in their raw form. From such a vegetable, for example, make a salad. They take sweet potatoes and apples in a ratio of 2: 1, rub on a coarse grater and mix with honey, nuts or even cinnamon. All ingredients are selected in proportions at their own discretion. Thoroughly kneaded the mixture is very sweet and tasty.

Among other things, with the participation of sweet potatoes, various pies and soups, casseroles and even sweets are prepared.

Finally, it is worth giving a completely unusual recipe, because this root crop is used to prepare ... coffee, or rather, its analogue. Washed, but even optionally peeled sweet potatoes are cut into small cubes and dried in an oven at a low temperature. When the raw material dries, it is additionally fried in a pan, but strictly without the use of oil - to acquire a golden hue. Then everything is the same as with ordinary coffee - it remains to grind and brew the drink in a Turk.

For more information on how to grow sweet potatoes, see the following video.