seraphic spud is a extremely frost - sensitive plant , which limits where it can be grown . It prefers farseeing , hot summers , but gardeners in colder climate can also farm it by using time of year - extend technique . The tubers provide a major portion of the food for thought supplying in many developing countries , range sixth on the major harvest scale that include pale yellow , rice , Solanum tuberosum and Indian corn .
Sweet Potato as a Food Crop
Although in the US , sweet potatoes are often a holiday diplomacy , in developing land , the Tuber may be a major intellectual nourishment source . The plant will grow at altitudes from sea level to over 8,000 feet . It does not take as much confinement or water as harvest like gamboge and Elmer Leopold Rice . The plant will brook dry spells and pathetic soil , although the size and Book of Numbers of tubers may be reduced .
Sweet Potato Requirements
mellifluous potatoes can begrownin any surface area where their canonical requirements can be met . These admit :
Sweet Potato USDA Zones
Sweet potatoes need a long growing season – a minimum of 150 hoar - complimentary Day . They do very well in USDA zone 8 through 11 , although they need irrigation in many areas to produce a nice crop . In the warmest areas , they may become repeated if they have a good H2O provision . Desert gardeners may be capable toharvesttwo crops .
Cold Climates
Its hoar sensitivity limits the sweet potato in cold USDA Zones . However , gardeners down to Zone 5 , which has an average of 165 hoar - free days , may still be able to grow a crop . The headstone is to bug out theslipsindoors and spring up in a greenhouse for a few weeks . wrap up the soil with black plastic at least two or three week before set out . Use short - season potpourri like Georgia Jet .
In the United States
The southern United States produce the bulk of the commercial sweet potatoes in this land , although California also grows the tubers . North Carolina is the main source of commercial-grade sweet Solanum tuberosum and raise about 60 pct of the commercial crop . It is followed in descending order by the state of California , Mississippi and Louisiana .
Worldwide Sweet Potato Production
China is the major manufacturer of sweet potato , typically producing more than 70 million tons a yr . Nigeria and Tanzania range next , but their production is a fraction of China ’s – on the Holy Order of 3 million scores a yr . Ethiopia , Indonesia , Uganda and Vietnam also produce at least 1 million scads a year . In all countries but China , the crop is ordinarily used by humans . Half or more of China ’s harvest is used for livestock feed .
