A sweet “superfood” On the radar of nutritionists everywhere,
sweet potatoes are packed with beta-carotene, vitamin C,
potassium and fiber. They're not only delicious and healthy,
they're also fairly simple to grow. North Carolina is the
largest commercial producer of sweet potatoes in the United
States, with most grown in the Coastal Plain and parts of the
Piedmont. Though sweet potatoes are often called yams, the two
are not related--the yam is a very large, starchy tuber that
doesn't grow in temperate climates. Sweet potatoes go into the
garden as "slips," which can be purchased or propagated from the
previous season's roots. They should not be planted until all
danger of frost has passed and the ground has warmed above 65 F.
Sweet potatoes require a long growing season, taking about four
months to mature. Now is a good time to research and plan what
varieties you might want to try this spring. Look for varieties
with good disease- and pest-resistance qualities, and choose
those that are recommended for yo