SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas)
Published: 2015-03-13Tags: алелопатия, батат, сладък картоф, растения-компаньони, другаруване
Translation
This is a translation of a Bulgarian-language post. It conveys the content faithfully but is not the author's original English writing.
Sweet potatoes have a very high energy value, exceeded only by beans and peas.
They are susceptible to fungal diseases such as root rot, which can be avoided with uninfected seed or regular crop rotation. If you plant white hellebore nearby, it repels the insect pests that feed on its leaves. If rabbits come to nibble in the beds, spray the leaves with diluted fish emulsion.
Move the finished seedlings out into the garden only once the soil is warm — June at the earliest. Allow plenty of space, since they grow vigorously and spread fast. Leave at least 40 cm between plants, and at least a metre to the next row. They are ready to lift when they begin to yellow — usually just before the first frosts.