How to grow sweet potato seedlings: a complete guide from seed selection to transplanting
Sweet potatoes are a nutritious and adaptable crop that have become a hot topic in recent years for their health benefits and ease of growing. This article will combine the hot content on the entire Internet in the past 10 days to introduce you to the whole process of sweet potato seedlings in detail, including seed selection, seedling raising methods, management techniques, etc., to help you easily cultivate robust sweet potato seedlings.
1. Basic steps for raising sweet potato seedlings

Sweet potato seedlings are a critical part of a successful planting. Here is an overview of the main steps:
| steps | content | time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Selection | Choose healthy, disease-free sweet potatoes as seed potatoes | 1 week before seedling raising |
| 2. Germination | Germination by soaking in warm water or sand bed | 7-10 days |
| 3. Breeding seedlings | Moving germinated seed potatoes into a nursery bed | 15-20 days |
| 4. Management | Temperature, moisture and nutrient management | the whole process |
| 5. Transplanting | Transplant when the seedlings are 15-20 cm tall | 25-30 days after seedling raising |
2. Detailed seedling raising methods
1. Seed selection techniques
Choose healthy and plump sweet potatoes as seed potatoes, preferably weighing 150-250 grams. Recent hot topics show that purple sweet potato and Japanese sweet potato varieties are attracting attention due to their high nutritional value.
| Variety | Features | Suitable area |
|---|---|---|
| purple sweet potato | High anthocyanin content, antioxidant | warm southern region |
| Japanese sweet potato | High sweetness and fine fiber | Cultivation in protected areas in the north |
| local traditional varieties | Strong adaptability and stable output | Available anywhere |
2. Germination method
Germination is a key step to improve germination rate. There are currently two main germination methods that are hotly discussed on the Internet:
•Warm water soaking method: Soak the seed potatoes in warm water at 50℃ for 10 minutes, then transfer to warm water at 25-30℃ and soak for 8 hours.
•Sand bed germination method: Lay 10 cm thick moist fine sand indoors, spread the seed potatoes flat and cover them with 3 cm fine sand.
3. Key points of seedling management
| Manage projects | request | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| temperature | 20-30℃ | Not lower than 15℃ at night |
| Humidity | 60-70% | Avoid standing water |
| light | Sufficient scattered light | Avoid direct sunlight |
| fertilize | diluted organic fertilizer | once a week |
3. Frequently Asked Questions
According to recent Internet search hotspots, the following are some of the most concerning issues in sweet potato seedling cultivation:
Q1: What should I do if the sweet potato seedlings turn yellow?
A: It may be a lack of nitrogen or too much water. It is recommended to apply a dilute urea solution and control the frequency of watering.
Q2: How to prevent sweet potato seedlings from growing excessively?
A: Increase the lighting time, control the night temperature to not exceed 18℃, and use chlormequat if necessary.
Q3: How to deal with diseases during seedling cultivation?
A: Isolate the diseased strains immediately, spray carbendazim and other fungicides, and improve ventilation conditions.
4. Seedling breeding time reference table
| area | Best time to raise seedlings | Transplanting time |
|---|---|---|
| South China | Late February to early March | late March |
| Yangtze River Basin | Mid-March to early April | late April |
| northern region | Early April to early May | late may |
5. Tips for transplanting sweet potato seedlings
Sweet potato seedlings can be transplanted when they grow to 15-20 cm tall. Transplanting techniques that have been hotly discussed on the Internet recently include:
•Oblique interpolation method: Insert the seedlings into the soil at an angle of 45 degrees, leaving 2-3 sections on the ground.
•Shallow planting method:Planting depth is 5-7 cm, which is conducive to root formation
•Transplanting after rain: Choose a cloudy day after rain to improve the survival rate
Through the above detailed seedling raising guidance, I believe you have mastered the key techniques of sweet potato seedling raising. Sweet potato cultivation not only provides healthy food, but also provides you with the fun of growing. The topic of "balcony sweet potato cultivation" has been very popular recently on social media. You might as well try growing it at home and enjoy the whole process from seedling raising to harvesting.
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