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Generally grown as an annual vegetable, sweet potatoes are actually an herbaceous perennial. The leaves are edible and may have been used historically for medicinal purposes, including as an antibiotic and a laxative. If you don’t plan to eat the leaves, make sure to add them to your compost pile as they are rich in potassium.

A late frost can ruin your sweet potato crop, so it is important to wait about 3 to 4 weeks after the last frost before planting. Soil temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal. Sweet potato root sprouts, also known as “slips,” can be purchased from a local nursery or ordered by mail. It is best to sprout the slips indoors for about 6 weeks in a warm, moist medium before planting them.

Bury the sprouted slips in 6-inch holes about 1 foot apart in a part of your garden that receives a full 8 hours of direct sunlight. Avoid planting sweet potatoes near tall plants so that the sunlight is not blocked. Sweet potatoes grow best in rich, well-drained, loamy soil and are fairly drought tolerant. For the best results, be sure to provide about 1 inch of water per week and then stop watering about 2 to 4 weeks before harvest. Adding compost before planting will provide adequate nutrition and increase the soil’s moisture-holding capacity.

For annual cultivation, most varieties take between 90 and 150 days of warm weather for the tubers to mature. The leaves tend to turn yellow when the potatoes are ready to harvest, but the crop can be left longer to improve the yield and nutritional content. If your soil is heavy clay, the sweet potatoes can break apart large clods and any forgotten or rotting tubers will provide a natural compost fertilizer.

Wait for a dry, sunny day to harvest your sweet potatoes and then gently dig into the soil away from the base of the plant to avoid damaging the skins. Curing your potatoes is essential for long term storage and must be done immediately after harvest. To cure them, place them in an environment with temperatures of 80 to 85°F and 85 to 90 percent relative humidity for 7 to 14 days. To keep humidity high, wrap individual sweet potatoes in perforated plastic bags or newspaper. Cover the sweet potatoes with a plastic sheet or cloth. Curing helps to heal wounds that occur during harvest, prevents shriveling, and reduces the risk of rot during storage. Curing also makes the sweet potato more palatable by converting starches to sugars and improving aroma and texture.

For more information regarding growing sweet potatoes, Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District programs, and/or technical assistance with water or soil questions, visit www.warrenswcd.com or call 513-695-1337. 

Additional Resources:
http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/growing-sweet-potatoes-home
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-04-22-how-grow-sweet-potatoes
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-sweet-potatoes-in-the-home-garden-1403479
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20706654/how-to-grow-sweet-potatoes/#:~:text=Sweet%20potatoes%20mature%20in%2090,but%20firmly%2C%20and%20water%20well.
https://www.botanical-online.com/en/botany/sweet-potato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueb-Fcuzc4U

Historically, wetlands have been thought of as places to avoid or as only sources of peat and fossil fuels. Because of this view, many of our wetlands have been destroyed (filled in or converted for other uses). Each state and county have wetland systems, but according to the U.S. EPA, the United States has lost more than 50 percent of the wetlands since before the European settlement of North America. More than 90% has been lost in Ohio specifically (Ohio Wetlands Association).   
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According to NRCS, “wetlands occur in many forms, including forested swamps, deep and shallow marshes, bogs, and prairie potholes. Some wetlands such as deep-water swamps are always wet, while others, such as bottomland swamps, dry out in certain seasons. These different types of wetlands have important functions; they protect shorelines, shelter rare and endangered species of plants and animals, and are used for recreation and education.”

Wetlands are often referred to as nature’s kidneys because of their ability to filter nutrients and other pollutants like pesticides and sediment from the water. Wetlands’ highly efficient cleaning power makes them a low-cost alternative for treating areas of concern. Wetlands filter water out in the following ways (Ohio Department of Natural Resources, H2Ohio):
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1. Slow the Flow – Wetlands slow the flow of water to allow nutrient-laden sediment to settle and help prevent further movement of contaminants.
2. Process and Remove – Wetlands process and remove nutrients and other contaminants, helping to prevent their flow further down the waterway.
3. Absorb and Hold – Soil can absorb and hold phosphorus and other nutrients, trapping them on the landscape and preventing them from moving further downstream.

“Wetlands also can help slow the overland flow of water and thus reduce flooding and soil erosion downstream. Coastal wetlands help absorb some of the impact of storm tides and waves before they reach upland areas. Wetlands are reservoirs for rainwater and runoff. They recharge ground water supplies and extend streamflow during periods of drought or low rainfall. Both coastal and inland wetlands provide breeding, nesting, and feeding habitats for millions of waterfowl, birds, and other wildlife.” (NRCS).  Amphibians rely on wetlands due to the fully aquatic stages of their lifecycle, and wet habitat requirements as adults.

Programs exist through Federal, State, and Local wetland programs that protect and restore wetlands, such as USDA’s Wetlands Reserve Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Wildlife Program, and State programs such as H2Ohio. For more information regarding wetland funding, Warren Co SWCD programs, and/or technical assistance on water or soil questions, contact us at [email protected] or (513) 695-1337. 

​Additional Resources: 

• Natural Resources Conservation Service – https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/water/wetlands/
• Ohio Wetlands Association - http://www.ohwetlands.org/
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources H2Ohio Wetland Program - https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/apply-for-grants/grants/h20-grant
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources - H2Ohio Program -  https://h2.ohio.gov/natural-resources/​