How many sweet potatoes grow per plant?
Written by
Julia Anderson
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Each sweet potato plant produces a moderate number of tubers, varying by variety from approximately three to six. Bush varieties, such as Vardaman, produce more but larger tubers in a close setting, while more widely vining sorts, like Beauregard, produce more tubers if given sufficient space. I find that continued attention to them throughout the season, particularly before the foliage closes in, will increase the number of tubers produced.
Variety Selection
- Plant Beauregard for 5-8 tubers in ideal conditions
- Choose Georgia Jet for reliable 4-6 tubers in short seasons
- Bush types like Vardaman yield 3-4 tubers in containers
- Purple varieties produce fewer but larger tubers
Optimal Spacing
- Space vining varieties 18-24 inches apart
- Allow 12 inches between bush types
- Wider spacing increases tuber size and quantity
- Avoid overcrowding that reduces yields by 30%
Seasonal Care
- Apply potassium-rich fertilizer at tuber initiation stage
- Maintain consistent moisture during bulking phase
- Control weeds that compete for nutrients
- Hill soil around vines to encourage tuber formation
The most serious influence of spacing is on tuber development. Varieties that vine in spaces 18 inches apart and in raised rows, that is, the roots can spread wide with no competition for them in the form of other plants. Closer spacing than that will reduce tuber size fully 40 per cent, in my experience. For plants produced in containers, a pot of at least 5 gallons per slip is required. And give those roots room if you are interested in yield!
Environmental influence. Sunlight should be at least six hours a day. I have noticed that seedlings planted in full sunlight yield one-third more than those under other conditions. The ground should be kept at a temperature of up to 65 degrees. This expedites the growth of tubers. Protect the haulms from early frost that nips the growing tubers and destroys them. Do not leave them to chance cultivation.
Harvest carefully to count your tubers accurately. Gently dig 18 inches away from plant centers. I average 5-6 tubers per Beauregard in my Zone 7 garden and jot down the results each year to compare with those of other Beauregard planting friends. Please notify your local garden club about your own results so we can calculate the averages for our locations.
Read the full article: How to Grow Sweet Potatoes Successfully
