Sweet Potatoes
Updated January 18, 2010
[ Assortments | Specific Varieties ]
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SWEET POTATO PRESERVATION PROJECT
Growing up in the mountain valleys of Idaho, sweet potatoes were something my family only got at Thanksgiving and occasionally Christmas. I can remember, as a child, counting the days until we were close to Thanksgiving and that tasty treat. Once I moved to Iowa and had a chance to start locating some of the rarer varieties and also had good conditions for growing them, sweet potatoes were no longer just on the dinner table at Thanksgiving. We enjoy them year round through Thanksgiving (wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them). Once I started rounding all of the rarer and old time varieties, I soon discovered a few things. Most of the sweet potatoes sold in the local grocery store are really not all that tasty. The greatest discovery of all is that there are a lot of varieties, not on the main commercial lists, that are early enough that many folks can grow them in places where people thought they could not be grown. We have had reports back from customers from Maine to Washington and all across the North that have had great luck growing sweet potatoes. We have set up this sweet potato preservation project as both a preservation effort and as an educational tool. Our first and primary goal is to make sure as many varieties of sweet potatoes get preserved as possible. Our second goal is to spread the word to as many folks as we can to try growing some of the earlier sorts and find out what a great garden item they are. We will continue to search out any new (old) ones we can and propagate them and get them out to the mainstream public as quickly as is possible. We have learned that many rodents of all sorts love the plants and roots and we do lose varieties in the field at times. For this reason, we are very grateful to our friend, Amy Goldman, who in 2007, donated us the money for a greenhouse to keep a pot of each variety going just in case of crop failure in the field. This has made life much easier here and, again, we say, thanks Amy! We have no plans to ever reduce or eliminate varieties just because they don't sell. Neither do we intend to focus on just a few and mass produce thousands of plants of only those varieties. Our sweet potato collections are not driven by sales only, but by making sure each variety is maintained. Regardless of what assortments you choose, we are hopeful that you will have a great harvest and can have Thanksgiving every day at your house.
ORGANIC CERTIFICATION: We have achieved organic certification for our sweet potato plants. Our sweet potato plants are started in the field and are grown on soil that receives no chemical treatments. The plants also are not sprayed for insects or disease and are grown organically.
SEASON CLOSEOUT SWEET POTATO SALE
All sweet potato slip assortments are offered at a 50% discount when shipped from June 25 through July 10, 2010. If you are willing to wait that late for your sweet potatoes and are willing to take "Pot Luck" on the varieties which you receive, you may order them at this discount. Please indicate on the sweet potato order form that you are ordering the "Season Closeout Special". You may choose which assortment you would prefer. We will try to honor that choice if at all possible. This is for assortments only. No individual varities may be requested at this Season Closeout price.
SWEET POTATO CHALLENGES
WOW! How can moles, voles, rabbits, deer, gophers, field rats, field mice, house mice, ground squirrels, and ground hogs all be wrong? Each of the above has had a serious impact on our crops over the years - - - each in a different way. All of them seem to travel for miles to eat a part of the crop. We'll keep fighting and have conquered some (well, at least temporarily). Regardless, there isn't a crop in our garden more pursued than the sweet potatoes. The animals must know something that is good. If only the creatures would pursue the weeds with such enthusiasm!!
POSTAGE CHARGES
1 through 25 slips = $6.00
26 through 100 slips = $7.00
101 through 200 slips = $8.00
(Limit of 200 slips total for each customer this year.)
Please remit separate payments for sweet potatoes and seeds this year so that if we run out of sweet potato slips we may just return your check to you.
SALES TAX
For Iowa residents only - You must pay 7% sales tax on your sweet potato order. (See order form for where to add this in.)
SHIPPING DATES
Slips are usually ready about May 25 and we start shipping when they are ready. Do not expect them any sooner. We continue to ship up until the third week of June. Orders are all filled on a first come, first served basis. We will make an announcement on the "News and Updates" page of the website around the end of May when we will start mailing out the slips. If you need to contact us by e-mail, regular mail, or telephone concerning your sweet potato order, PLEASE include your sweet potato confirmation number. Please be patient! There are no guarantees on shipping dates. We cannot ship them to you any earlier than this because they are not ready here for shipping until those dates. You may NOT specify any individual varieties in your assortments. All assortments will be our choice from what is available.
SWEET POTATO ASSORTMENTS
NOTE: All sweet potato slips are certified organic. You will get named varieties in your asssortments. Each bunch (variety) of plants will be labeled with the variety name on a white plastic 4 inch label.
Bush Type Assortment - A selection of 2 to 6 of the "least vining" types for the gardener with limited space. 6 plants for $4.00, 12 plants for $7.50, 25 plants for $14.00. (Limit of 25 plants)
General Assortment - Our choice of any we have. 6 plants for $3.00, 12 plants for $5.00, 25 plants for $8.00, 50 plants for $15.00, 100 plants for $27.50 (Limit of 100 plants)
Heirloom Assortment - Our choice of any Heirloom sweet potato variety we have listed below in the descriptions. 6 plants for $5.00, 12 plants for $9.00, 25 plants for $15.00, 50 plants for $25.00. (Limit of 50 plants).
Northern Assortment - A selection of the shortest season types we have. The more plants you order, the more varieties you get. 6 plants for $3.50, 12 plants for $6.00, 25 plants for $10.00, 50 plants for $18.00. (Limit of 50 plants)
Orange Assortment - A selection of orange or yellow fleshed types. 6 plants for $5.00, 12 plants for $9.00, 25 plants for $15.00, 50 plants for $25.00. (Limit of 50 plants)
Purple Assortment - A selection that will be either purple skinned or purple fleshed. 6 plants for $5.50. (Limit of 6 plants).
Rainbow Assortment - Will include 5 plants of a white skinned variety, 5 plants of a purple skinned variety, 5 plants of an orange skinned variety, and 5 plants of a red (or pink) skinned variety. 20 plants for $19.00. (Limit of 20 plants ONLY)
White Assortment - A selection of White fleshed types. 6 plants for $3.50, 12 plants for $6.00, 25 plants for $10.00, 50 plants for $18.00. (Limit of 50 plants)
NOTES
Each customer may only order a TOTAL of 200 slips this year.
SWEET POTATO DESCRIPTIONS - (For Reference Only)
You may only order assortments this year. We will not be selling any individually requested varieties.
We try to limit descriptions about flavor as flavor varies depending upon the individual's taste and also upon the soil type and the climate where the variety is grown. My sweet potato tastes and Linda's are not the same. I like dry and firm sweet potatoes with a slightly sweet taste. Linda likes smooth, moist and very sweet flavor. Your best bet is to keep trying different varieties until you find the one that fits your taste buds.
We are not using days to maturity for the sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes need hot weather. Days to maturity is very subjective. 90 days in my native Idaho mountain valley and 90 days here in Iowa are not anywhere close to the same. Heat units or growing degree days is the only way to accurately determine maturity. (Please see a detailed explanation of this on the beginning sweet potato catalog page of this website under the "Sweet Potato Growing Information".) Our plants here are usually planted the last week of June and are dug the last week of September (or about 90 days). We will use the following criteria for maturity.
Early: At 90 days here in Iowa these have reached full size.
Mid-season: At 90 days here in Iowa these still have roots that need a few more weeks to bulk up.
Late: At 90 days here in Iowa these only have about 25% of the roots mature.
Very Late: Really nothing much at 90 days. These need around 140 days.
For short season areas, success will come easier if you plant on black plastic that has been layed down several weeks prior to setting the slips out. Remember they like it hot. Those who live where summer night temperatures are usually less than 60 deg. F, should probably stick to early varieties only and definitely use black plastic to grow them on. Clear plastic tunnels with both ends open are also great in cooler areas.
NOTE - THERE WILL BE NO INDIVIDUAL VARIETIES AVAILABLE TO ORDER FOR 2010. WE WILL BE TAKING ORDERS FOR ASSORTMENTS ONLY (OUR CHOICE). YOU MAY NOT SPECIFY ANY INDIVIDUAL VARIETIES THIS YEAR. WE ARE LEAVING THESE DESCRIPTIONS IN THE CATALOG SO THAT ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR ASSORTMENTS (WITH NAMED VARIETIES) YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED.
Allgold: Early. Vigorous vines, tan skin with orange flesh, heavy yields. Developed in Oklahoma in 1952.
Amish Bush Porto Rico: Early. Ivy leaf, pink skin with orange flesh.
Amish Red: Mid-season, ivy leaf, deep pink/red skin, orange flesh.
Amish White Bunch: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Average viner, cream colored skin, white flesh. Roots are primarily directly under the plant.
Apache: Mid-season. Very vigorous vines, pale orange skin and flesh. Developed by the USDA in 1959.
Batas: Mid-season. Creamy white skin and white flesh, vigorous vines. Half the roots are directly under a central plant. Above average yields.
Betty's: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Semi-bush, pink-red skin, light orange flesh.
Beuregarde: Mid-season. Normal leaves, red orange skin, orange flesh. Roots get huge, but the flavor and texture are not as good as some of the heirlooms.
Brazilian: Mid-season. Very vigorous vines, green colored normal leaves, white skin, white flesh, excellent yield.
Brinkley White: Mid-season. (Heirloom Variety) Vigorous vines, green colored normal leaf, creamy-white skin, cream colored flesh, excellent yields.
Bush Porto Rico: Mid-season. Regular leaf, yellow-orange skin and flesh. Needs long season to do well.
California Gold: Early. Very vigorous vines, light orange skin, orange flesh. Roots tend to be long. Above average yields.
Carogold: Early. Thin, rampant vines, bright purple skin, orange flesh. Developed by South Carolina Department of Agriculture in 1958.
Carolina Bunch: Mid-season. Semi-bush, light orange skin with light orange flesh.
Carolina Ruby: Mid-season. Vining, reddish skin with deep orange flesh.
Carver: Early. Semi-bush, green ivy leaf, pinkish-red skin, light orange flesh, above average yield.
Centennial: Early. Semi-bush, normal leaf, copper skin, pale orange flesh, long, skinny roots, adapted for heavier soils, above average yield.
Continental Red: Early. Semi-bush, green colored ivy leaf, pink-red skin, light orange flesh, above average yield.
Copper Jewel: Ealry. Vigorous vines, light orange skin, light orange flesh, average yield.
Crystal White: Mid-season. Moderate vines, off-white skin, cream flesh.
Darby: Mid-season. Extremely long vines, red skin, deep orange flesh, average yields.
Dingess Connecticut Bloom: Late. Vigorous vines, pinkish-white skin with white flesh, average yield. Plants like to flower.
Dingess Old Time White: Mid-season. Vigorous vines, good producer of large white skinned, white flesh potatoes.
Dingess Pink Tint: Mid-season. Vigorous vines, white skin with pinkish flecks, white flesh, above average yields.
Dingess Rusty Coat: Late. Large, semi-bush, pale rusty colored skin, white flesh, low yields.
Edna Evans: (Heirloom Variety) Late. Average vines, light orange skin, orange flesh, average yields.
Envy: Early. Sent to us by Rollie Morton. Pale orange flesh and skin, ivy leaf, stays slightly firm when baked.
Excel: Mid-season. Large, flat roots, orangish tan skin, pale orange flesh.
Frazier White: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Average vining, paler green colored normal leaves, white skin and white flesh, uniform roots, excellent yields, superb for fairs and exhibitions.
Gem: Mid-season. Developed by University of North Carolina in 1964. Viney, light orange skin, pale orange flesh.
Georgia Jet: Early. Semi-bush, green colored normal leaf, pink- red skin, orange flesh, above average yield. While this continues to be our top seller, I find it to be one of the least desirable ones to grow. Yes, it is early. Yes, it gets big, but it cooks up mushy. It doesn't have the flavor or resistance to cracking that some of the other varieties we carry have. We sincerely hope that you will try some of the more flavorful heirlooms that we offer. While you may not get an 8 to 10 pound "whopper," you're going to get something that will tantalize your taste buds with the heirlooms.
Georgia Red: Mid-season. Green colored normal large leaved vining plants, tan/orange skin, deep orange flesh, above average yield.
Georgia Yam: Early. Average vining, but a tough one to sprout. Copper orange colored skin, orange colored flesh, excellent yields.
Ginseng Orange: Early. A mutation on Ginseng Red, producing more of an orange skin and orange flesh.
Ginseng Red: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Large, semi-bush, ivy leaf, pink skin, light orange flesh. Can produce one super large root.
Gold Nugget: Mid-season. Ivy leaf, light red skin, orange flesh.
Golden Jewel: Mid-season. Regular vigorous leaves, orange skin, orange flesh.
Golden Slipper: (Heirloom Variety) Late. Average vines, light orange skin, light orange flesh, long slender roots, average yields.
Goldrush: Mid-season. Orange, moist flesh with orange skin.
Goldstar: Early. Average vines, pink skin, light orange flesh, excellent yields.
Hayman: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Vigorous vines, cream colored skin, cream flesh, average yield. Plants tend to produce very large numbers of smaller sized roots. This one never seems to get very large, but flavor is good.
Heartogold: Early. Developed in 1947. Vigorous vines, huge yields of tan skinned, bright orange flesh potatoes.
Hernandez: Mid-season. Vigorous vines, dark orange skin, dark orange flesh. Tends to be very moist when cooked, above average yields.
Indiana Gold: (Heirloom Variety) Sent to us by Mark Jennete. A superb, golden skin and orange flesh. Vigorous, yet tame vines that set roots early.
Ivis White Cream: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Pale green normal leaves, cream skin, cream flesh, uniform roots, excellent yields.
Japanese: Early. Large, semi-bush, green colored ivy leaf, pink-red skin, pale orange flesh, excellent yields.
Jeanie: Mid-season. Average vines, deep pink skin, light orange flesh, average yields.
Jewell: Mid-season. Semi-bush, greenish colored normal leaves, above average yields, tends to produce medium sized roots regardless of the season length. Has light orange skin with light orange flesh, on the moist side.
Jubilee: Early. Average vining, cream colored skin, cream colored flesh, above average yields.
Korean Purple: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Vining, dark green colored normal leaves, purple skin, white flesh, excellent yields. Very sweet, one of Linda's favorites.
Laceleaf: Early. Semi-bush, greenish purple ivy leaves, pink skin, pale orange flesh, excellent yields.
Magoffin: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Sent to us by a customer to add to our collection. Old fashioned white skinned, dry flesh from KY. Does not set roots directly under the plant.
Margaret Bray: Mid-season. Kentucky heirloom. Ivy leaf, pink/red skin, orange flesh.
Martins: Early. Vigorous vines, orange skin, light orange flesh, excellent yields.
Maryland 810: Early. Average vines, red skin, deep orange flesh, very moist, above average yields. Bake without peeling and wrapped in foil.
Maynard Family White: (Heirloom Variety) Late. Very vigorous vines, white flesh, white skin.
Memphis Pride: Mid-season. Vining, pinkish skin, light orange flesh, above average yields.
Millard Cooper: (Heirloom Variety) Late. Vigorous vines, cream colored skin, white flesh, old fashioned, rough shaped roots.
Nancy Hall: (Heirloom Variety) Late. Creamy yellow skin and flesh, excellent flavor, but roots never get very large.
Nemagold: Mid-season. Oklahoma introduction from 1958. Orange/tan skin, orange semi-moist flesh.
Nugget: Mid-season. Introduced from NC Experimental Station in 1961. Average vines, pinkish skin, light orange flesh, average yields.
Oakleaf: Early. Semi-bush, greenish purple colored ivy leaves, pink skin, light orange flesh, excellent yields.
Okinawan: Very late. Pale lavender skin, purple flesh, dry flesh, a very poor sprouter. These are not recommended for people who do not live in a very hot climate.
Oklahoma Red: Mid-season. Average vines, regular leaf, red skin, orange flesh. Likes heavy soil
Oklamar: Mid-season. Developed by Oklahoma State in 1957. Tannish skin with salmon flesh.
Old Brazil: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Rampant viner, white skin, white flesh, tends to produce either a huge root or nothing at all.
Old Fashioned Southern Queen: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Very vigorous vines, white skin, cream flesh, average yields.
Old Henry: Early. Vining, cream white skin, white flesh, uniform roots, average yield.
Old Kentucky: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Old fashioned, rough looking, but tasty, white skin, white flesh.
Old Orange: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Large, deep orange roots - both skin and flesh. Flesh is moist, poor sprouter. >\
Orange Oakleaf: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Pale copper colored roots, nice bright orange flesh, average vining, above average yields.
Pelican Processor: Mid-season. Developed in Louisiana in 1944. A white fleshed, white skinned variety.
Poplar Root: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Large, slim, white skin and flesh, very vigorous vines.
Porto Rico Bunch: Mid-season. Red orange skin, orange flesh. Vining roots centered under main plant.
Pumpkin Yam: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Average vines, orange skin, light orange flesh, excellent yields.
Purple: Early. Lots of vines, deep purple roots with purple flesh.
Qualls: (Heirloom Variety from Virginia) Late. Pale tan orange roots with similar colored flesh.
Red Ivy Leaf: Early. Semi-bush, green colored ivy leaf, deep pink skin, light orange flesh, average yield.
Red Wine Velvet: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Average vines, deep red skin, orange flesh, average yield.
Red Yam: Early. Large semi-bush, large root, red skin, orange flesh, above average yield.
Redcliff: Mid-season. Developed by University of South Carolina in 1966. Orange skin and flesh.
Regal: Late. Average vines, red skin, orange flesh, average yields.
Ringley's Porto Rico: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Average vines, ivy leaf type with pale, off-cream to tan colored skin, apricot flesh, average yields.
Rose Centennial: Mid-season. Sent to us by E. A. Smith. Uniform, rosy colored tan roots with medium orange colored flesh.
Sharp: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Bush, purplish-green stems, orange skin, orange flesh, above average yields.
Shoregold: Early. Semi-bush, red skin, orange flesh, above average yields.
Southern Queen: Mid-season. Vigorous vines, white skin and flesh, average yields.
Spanish Red: (Heirloom Variety) Very late. Large, semi-bush, red skin, white flesh, long, skinny roots.
Stevenson's: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Bush, light orange skin, light orange flesh, above average yields.
Stoker Red: Late. Average vines, pale red skin, salmon colored flesh, average yields.
Sumor: Early. Average vines, medium pale green normal leaves, cream white skin, white flesh, plants frequently flower, above average yield. After several months in storage I have found these to be a near suitable substitute for Irish potatoes.
Sunnyside: Mid-season. Developed by USDA in 1953. Pale orange/tan skin, pale orange flesh.
Tennessee Top Mark: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Vining, dark pink skin, orange flesh.
Theodore Meece Old Fashioned White: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Long vines, white skin, white flesh, average yields.
Travis Mid-season. A white version which we obtained from the USDA. White skin and flesh, drier type.
Vardaman: Mid-season. Bush, purple colored normal leaves, light orange skin, orange flesh, long skinny roots, average yield.
Violetta: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Vining, bright purple skin, white flesh, superbly sweet, above average yields.
Wakenda: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Average vines, dark pink skin, dark orange flesh, excellent yields.
White Delite: Mid-season. Average vines, purple skin, white flesh, average yields.
White Hayman: Mid-season. Green colored normal leaves, vigorous vines, white skin, white flesh, roots can get large.
White Jewell: Mid-season. Average vines, cream colored skin, cream colored flesh, average yields.
White Queen: Mid-season. Average vines, white skin, white flesh, uniform roots, average yields.
Whitestar: Mid-season. Introduced in 1948 by the USDA as a livestock feed cultivar. White skin, white flesh, uniform roots, vigorous vines.
White Triumph: Mid-season. Ivy leaf, vining, small roots, white skin, white flesh, average yields.
White Yam: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Average vines, white skin, creamy-white flesh, above average yields.
Willowleaf: (Heirloom Variety) Early. Large, semi-bush, light orange skin, orange flesh, above average yield.
Yellow Jersey: (Heirloom Variety) Mid-season. Vining, green normal leaves, creamy colored skin, white flesh, low yields.