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Sweet potatoes are becoming increasingly popular in this country. Since they are grown in many regions of the world, the tubers are always in season in the supermarket. Find out here when sweet potatoes are in season in Germany.

In a nutshell

  • Sweet potatoes are only distantly related to regular potatoes.
  • Imported goods are available all year round.
  • regional and home-grown sweet potatoes are available in autumn.

Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas)

The sweet potato, also known as white potato, bulbous bindweed or sweet potato, is a plant species from the bindweed family (Convolvulaceae). Like the native potato, it also belongs to the order of the nightshades (Sonales), but is only distantly related to the German potato. The home of the wild form is Central America, where it was cultivated as a cultivated plant by the Latin American advanced civilizations. The Spanish brought them to Southeast Asia. Today, sweet potatoes are cultivated in the tropics, subtropics and temperate zones.

Harvest sweet potatoes

The season for harvesting the sweet potato is according to the calendar

  • in September (season start)
  • ideal time often not until mid-October

Therefore, before you start digging up the white potatoes, you should take a look at the parts of the plant that are above ground. If these have turned yellow, the tubers are ready for harvest. The opposite of this harvest time is the weather in this country. If the mercury column falls below ten degrees Celsius, the plants die. Therefore, you should protect Ipomoea batatas from the "cold" with a thick layer of mulch or straw, especially if you want or need to delay harvesting. In any case, the sweet potatoes must be removed before the first frost, as this affects the taste and firmness of the tubers.

Tip: You should be careful when digging up the potatoes, as sweet potatoes only have a thin skin.

In the grocery store

Sweet potatoes are available in grocery stores all year round. In terms of climate protection, however, you should pay attention to the origin, because batatas are also grown in Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece). However, imports from the USA and South America account for the largest share.

Tip: Regionally, sweet potatoes are in season in September/October.

frequently asked Questions

Can sweet potatoes be stored?

In contrast to various conventional potato varieties, Ipomoea batatas can only be stored for a very limited time, as it begins to rot easily. You should not keep them at room temperature for longer than one to two weeks. At temperatures around eleven degrees Celsius, they should last up to a month. It's definitely too cold for the white potato in the fridge.

Where can I get sweet potatoes from Germany?

A good tip are regional weekly markets or the farm sale. Some German sweet potatoes are also sold in the grocery store.

Which sweet potato varieties promise high yields?

The varieties “Centennial”, “Georgia Jet”, “Korean Purple”, “Maryland” or “Tainung 65”, for example, promise a good harvest. The growth of these tubers is between 90 and 100 days.

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Category:

Vegetable garden