Post by macmex on Oct 26, 2021 13:51:28 GMT
I had to check my notes to remember how long I've been growing Hopi. I first find it in my notes in the 2018 growing season. I'm sure I received my start from Gary Schaum, though there's no telling whether he got it from Sandhill Preservation Center or if the got it from him.
Hopi might go unnoticed in a collection of sweet potatoes for the simple reason that there's nothing really unique about its appearance. It has typical sweet potato size, shape and color. Its flesh is of the same color and texture as what one would find in a grocery store sweet potato. (This isn't a put down. Grocery store sweet potatoes are typically very good.) Hopi's vines are fairly restrained, only running about 4.5 to 5' from the base of the plant. It's leaves are somewhat distinct. I can generally pick Hopi out from a row because of the unique shape of its leaves.
Frankly, after growing this sweet potato for four years, I have to say that I'm growing attached to it. I like its dependability. It gives me the impression that some breeder did a whole lot of work to come up with a sweet potato that the typical American farmer or gardener would like and readily be able to sell. When I sell slips, and a person who is new to sweet potatoes asks for a suggestion, this would be a good one to suggest because 1) It's very dependable, and 2) It will produce roots which most likely fit that person's expectations.
Below are my notes, taken when I dug this variety.
10/23/2021 Dug Hopi (sweet potato) 7 plants. Vines and foliage look very healthy and vigorous, though the vines did not extend more than 4 and 1/2 or 5 ft from the base of the plant.
Hopi vines show a good deal of maroon coloring on the stems.
Did not observe flowers or buds on the vines.
Overall the roots are blocky and of a pleasant shape. Color is coppery with a slight rosy tint and interior is a nice orange. All roots were directly under the plants. The overall harvest from seven plants was approximately a bushel. This is a dependable variety.
This is the total crop from 7 plants, planted at about 15" apart.
Indeed, this one might do well crowded a bit closer together in the row. The roots are all concentrated right under the plant. Here's a picture of how they are situated. I excavated around a plant to show the placement of the roots, typical for this variety.
Hopi might go unnoticed in a collection of sweet potatoes for the simple reason that there's nothing really unique about its appearance. It has typical sweet potato size, shape and color. Its flesh is of the same color and texture as what one would find in a grocery store sweet potato. (This isn't a put down. Grocery store sweet potatoes are typically very good.) Hopi's vines are fairly restrained, only running about 4.5 to 5' from the base of the plant. It's leaves are somewhat distinct. I can generally pick Hopi out from a row because of the unique shape of its leaves.
Frankly, after growing this sweet potato for four years, I have to say that I'm growing attached to it. I like its dependability. It gives me the impression that some breeder did a whole lot of work to come up with a sweet potato that the typical American farmer or gardener would like and readily be able to sell. When I sell slips, and a person who is new to sweet potatoes asks for a suggestion, this would be a good one to suggest because 1) It's very dependable, and 2) It will produce roots which most likely fit that person's expectations.
Below are my notes, taken when I dug this variety.
10/23/2021 Dug Hopi (sweet potato) 7 plants. Vines and foliage look very healthy and vigorous, though the vines did not extend more than 4 and 1/2 or 5 ft from the base of the plant.
Hopi vines show a good deal of maroon coloring on the stems.
Did not observe flowers or buds on the vines.
Overall the roots are blocky and of a pleasant shape. Color is coppery with a slight rosy tint and interior is a nice orange. All roots were directly under the plants. The overall harvest from seven plants was approximately a bushel. This is a dependable variety.
This is the total crop from 7 plants, planted at about 15" apart.
Indeed, this one might do well crowded a bit closer together in the row. The roots are all concentrated right under the plant. Here's a picture of how they are situated. I excavated around a plant to show the placement of the roots, typical for this variety.
