Post by macmex on Jun 25, 2021 20:07:06 GMT
Most often I plant my sweet potatoes by making a ridge (hill), laying irrigation tape on top, and then covering the hill with plastic mulch. This set up requires some hardware, such as the drip tape, some fittings and at least a pressure regulator, (be certain to use 12 pounds per square inch, nothing higher) in order to reduce the water pressure coming from the hose. I like it very much, though, as it cuts down on evaporation and enables me to water deeply without using as much water as I would with conventional irrigation. The plastic hold moisture in and creates, what I consider to be kind of a greenhouse environment, underneath, for the sweet potatoes. It has been my observation that I get better yields with this arrangement.
Some growers, up North, also use plastic mulch, but they don't put irrigation under the plastic. I mentioned my irrigation arrangement, once, to Glenn Drowns, and he seemed a little puzzled over why I did that. He just lays black plastic and plants through it. I suspect this is because his is a much cooler, moister environment than my part of Oklahoma. One time my irrigation tape didn't work, and I didn't know it until harvest time. We had almost no harvest at all. It was like the Dust Bowl under that plastic!
In the North black plastic is used to increase soil temperature and help sweet potatoes produce better yields in a cooler environment. In hot areas, like mine, plastic mulch is used to conserve moisture. Frankly, I wouldn't mind using WHITE plastic, if I could. Maybe it would reflect some of the heat away from my plants. (Though I have to admit, through the hottest part of our summer, established sweet potato plants never seed stressed, as long as they have sufficient moisture.)
Here's a photo of a hill (ridge) with the irrigation tape (T tape laid across the top.)
After we lay and test the irrigation tape, to make sure it isn't leaking anywhere it shouldn't, we then lay the plastic mulch over it. Here's a photo which kind of illustrates the process.
Look above, to see the link for the pressure regulator. There are kits available, which will get you everything.
Here's the plastic all in place. If you're not getting into the mid 90s at this point, you can probably plant right through the plastic at this point. Otherwise you may need to mulch with weeds, paper or cardboard, over top of the plastic, to cut down on the heat while the slips get established. (I'll write more about this later.)
When we are in the hottest part of summer I simply water each row (approx. 90' long) ALL NIGHT LONG, once a week. Watering for just a couple hours hasn't worked well for me, as the irrigation doesn't reach as well to the end of the row when irrigation time is reduced. I do it ALL NIGHT.
Having said all this, let me conclude that though I love plastic mulch I have had good success without it. If you are intimidated or not able to find plastic mulch, DO NOT think you can't grow sweet potatoes! Better to plant and grow than not to plant at all!
Some growers, up North, also use plastic mulch, but they don't put irrigation under the plastic. I mentioned my irrigation arrangement, once, to Glenn Drowns, and he seemed a little puzzled over why I did that. He just lays black plastic and plants through it. I suspect this is because his is a much cooler, moister environment than my part of Oklahoma. One time my irrigation tape didn't work, and I didn't know it until harvest time. We had almost no harvest at all. It was like the Dust Bowl under that plastic!
In the North black plastic is used to increase soil temperature and help sweet potatoes produce better yields in a cooler environment. In hot areas, like mine, plastic mulch is used to conserve moisture. Frankly, I wouldn't mind using WHITE plastic, if I could. Maybe it would reflect some of the heat away from my plants. (Though I have to admit, through the hottest part of our summer, established sweet potato plants never seed stressed, as long as they have sufficient moisture.)
Here's a photo of a hill (ridge) with the irrigation tape (T tape laid across the top.)
After we lay and test the irrigation tape, to make sure it isn't leaking anywhere it shouldn't, we then lay the plastic mulch over it. Here's a photo which kind of illustrates the process.
Look above, to see the link for the pressure regulator. There are kits available, which will get you everything.
Here's the plastic all in place. If you're not getting into the mid 90s at this point, you can probably plant right through the plastic at this point. Otherwise you may need to mulch with weeds, paper or cardboard, over top of the plastic, to cut down on the heat while the slips get established. (I'll write more about this later.)
When we are in the hottest part of summer I simply water each row (approx. 90' long) ALL NIGHT LONG, once a week. Watering for just a couple hours hasn't worked well for me, as the irrigation doesn't reach as well to the end of the row when irrigation time is reduced. I do it ALL NIGHT.
Having said all this, let me conclude that though I love plastic mulch I have had good success without it. If you are intimidated or not able to find plastic mulch, DO NOT think you can't grow sweet potatoes! Better to plant and grow than not to plant at all!