The Sweet Potato Network

[macmex]

I must be crazy to start something new, but here goes. I just started a forum sight to promote propagation of sweet potato varieties. It's called "The Sweet Potato Network." Costs nothing to participate in. It's simply a place for sweet potato people to meet, communicate and share. What really tickles me is that this concept doesn't cost a penny, yet it has huge potential for the furtherance of uncommon varieties of sweet potatoes.

In the not-too-distant-future, I will be doing a lesson in Homesteading Edu's sweet potato course, on how to produce slips for sale. I'll share it here and at the Sweet Potato Network. My vision is to get a lot more people doing this. It's a good way to earn some pocket change, but the best part is that it PROMOTES growing sweet potatoes and makes it possible for gardeners to obtain less common types.

I want the Sweet Potato Network to be a place where aspiring new growers can go and get advice and mentoring, so as to attain success.

So, drop in if you want. 

The Sweet Potato Network

I'm sure I'll be driving some traffic back here, through this new forum.

[heavyhitterokra]

Thanks, for your many contributions in that area, George. 

Of all the things one might choose to plant in a home garden, sweet potatoes seem to pay off better in simplicity and high nutrition than almost any other crop. They are a joy to grow, the vines are good for your soil, they are easy to prepare, and winter storage is very straightforward and easy to manage. For the life of me, I don't understand why more people don't grow them.

[macmex]

And there is such a wealth of diversity available. Few gardeners, let alone consumers realize the wonderful variety of flavors, textures and colors they come in. They can even be grown in containers, doubling as decorative and edibles.

[heavyhitterokra]

I always appreciate seeing sweet potato vines placed in hanging pots and incorporated into the landscaping as ground cover when I'm in town. I think adding veggies to the mix is a very smart way to go.

[rdback]

Nov 26, 2020 22:21:11 GMT -6 heavyhitterokra said:

...For the life of me, I don't understand why more people don't grow them.

Harvesting them. For folks with bad backs, that is an unthinkable task.

George, that's something you might want to address, either at Sweet Potato Net or Homesteading - how to grow sweet potatoes with a bad back.

[macmex]

Yes. That's a great issue to deal with.
I haven't tried it, but I've heard of folk who dig them with a one bottom plow. It's essentially one pass with the tractor and they are unearthed. Will have to try it.

[heavyhitterokra]

rdback, thanks, for posting the comment about folks with a bad back.  That helps to get us all to thinking ... I've planted Kennebec potatoes in a bed of straw about a foot deep before. When harvest time came, I just turned the straw back and the potatoes were positioned right on top of the ground, lying on their sides, half-buried in straw, half-buried in the dirt. All I had to do was dust them off and pick them up. I've never tried that method with sweet potatoes before. I don't know if it would work there, but that might be a thing someone would be willing to try, just to be able to report the results back to us on the forum?

[macmex]

I had to work at getting myself registered on the Sweet Potato Network . I believe I ended up using the same screen name but a different password. Not sure I understand why. I know I have been able to log into Homegrown Goodness using the same exact login as for Green Country Seed Savers. If anyone just can't manage to get into the Sweet Potato Network, let me know. As administrator I may be able to help.

By the way, I have it on my list to do a blog on "Sweet Potatoes for those With Weak Backs." I do have some ideas.