Detailed Guide to Purple Sweet Potato Cultivation: The Whole Process from Seed Selection to Harvest
Purple sweet potato is also called black sweet potato. Many people think that purple sweet potato is just a bred variety of sweet potato, but that is not the case. Purple sweet potato not only contains all the nutrients found in sweet potato, but also contains anthocyanins, which sweet potato does not have, making it an anti-cancer crop. Sweet potato can fight fatigue and aging and is of great benefit to human health. So how should we grow it? Below, the editor brings you the cultivation methods for purple sweet potato. Let's take a look!
1. Site Selection and Fertilization
Purple sweet potato is a warmth-loving crop. A temperature of around 23°C is the most suitable for its growth. Therefore, when choosing a planting site, we should select an area with moderate temperature, higher and dry terrain, and a good drainage and irrigation system. The soil for planting purple sweet potato must have good fertilizer and water retention, and be fertile and loose in texture, preferably sandy soil. After selecting the site, prepare the land and apply fertilizer. Apply an appropriate amount of base fertilizer according to the area of the selected site. The base fertilizer should be mainly decomposed farmyard manure, and it should be plowed into the soil together. After plowing, build up field ridges to facilitate the growth of purple sweet potato and later management.
2. Seed Selection and Sowing
Seed selection is very important, because it determines later growth and yield. When selecting seeds, try to choose varieties with long tuberous roots, few fibrous roots, and a good appearance, such as Shanchuanzi and others. When sowing, determine the planting time according to the growing region. In southern regions, planting is usually done around Qingming Festival. For the planting method, try to choose single-row planting, because this can provide enough growing space for purple sweet potato. It is best to plant on an overcast afternoon, as this helps improve the survival rate of the seedlings and promotes recovery after transplanting. When planting, control the planting density well. It must never be too dense, because excessive density will hinder the growth of purple sweet potato, lead to insufficient nutrients in the plant, and affect growth.
3. Field Management
After planting purple sweet potato, what we need to do is wait for it to mature and carry out good field management. Field management includes watering and fertilizing, pest and disease control, and hoeing and weeding, among other tasks. These tasks are all very important for the growth of purple sweet potato. Water and fertilize in a timely manner according to the growth of the purple sweet potato and changes in the weather. However, be careful not to overdo either, otherwise the result will be the opposite of what is intended. Do a good job of preventing field pests and diseases, strengthen control, and reduce the incidence of pests and diseases. Also observe the amount of weeds in the field. When there are too many, they will rob the purple sweet potato of nutrients needed for growth, so weeds should be removed in time to create the best growing environment for purple sweet potato.
4. Timely Harvesting
Timely harvesting is an important factor in ensuring the quality of purple sweet potato. Usually in southern regions, around National Day, when the surrounding temperature drops below 15°C, the tuber expansion period of purple sweet potato has ended, and the growth of stems and leaves has also stopped. At this time, it should be harvested promptly. Harvesting should not be done in windy or rainy weather. When harvesting, first cut off the purple sweet potato vines, then dig gently to prevent mechanical damage to the tubers. Once wounds appear, they are highly susceptible to infection by pathogens, causing the purple sweet potatoes to rot. Not only can they then not be stored or transported, but the commercial value of the purple sweet potatoes is also reduced, making them impossible to sell.
The above is the editor's brief introduction to purple sweet potato cultivation methods. The current market for purple sweet potato is no lower than that for sweet potato, because the nutritional value of purple sweet potato is higher than that of sweet potato. Moreover, the current market trend for purple sweet potato even seems to be slightly surpassing that of sweet potato, so the prospects for growing purple sweet potato are still good. However, everyone should still consider carefully before making a decision to plant. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you all for reading and supporting.