Home SWEET POTATO Murasaki Sweet Plant

MURASAKI

MURASAKI

120 days. This much sought after Japanese sweet potato has amethyst skin and pearly flesh that’s creamy, sweet and nutty flavored. So different from ordinary sweet potatoes, Murasaki has drier, more subtly flavored flesh that begs to be roasted and topped simply with butter or miso for a sumptuous dish. Plants are disease resistant. This is a long season crop that benefits from plastic mulch to pre-warm the soil.

Slips are shipped Priority Mail directly from the growing fields, between mid-April and early June. Available only within the contiguous US. Sorry, not available to CA.

PLANT

$21.95
$21.95
Soil Temp for Transp 65°F
Plant Spacing 16-18"
Row Spacing 12-24"
Fertilizer Needs Medium

Ipomoea batatas Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A. Although sweet potatoes and yams look alike, the yam is from a subtropical shrub that is native to Africa, while the sweet potato is from the American morning glory family.

Days to maturity are calculated from date of planting.

Culture
• Sweet potatoes should be planted in the garden when the weather has stabilized in late spring and nighttime temperatures are above 60°F
• The use of low tunnels or cold frames is highly recommended in cooler climates and northern states with shorter seasons
• Rototill or fork in a 2 inch thick layer of compost and bone meal
• Create 6-8 inch high raised beds
• Soil should be adequately draining; water thoroughly every 7-10 days
• Sweet potatoes require up to 1 inch of water per week throughout the season

Transplanting
• Plant slips deeply into raised beds, up to top leaves
• Live plants should be planted even with the soil
• Keep evenly moist until you see new growth
• If the soil temperature is less than 65°F, plant slips in 3-4 inch pots and keep them in a warm location until you can plant outside

Insects & Diseases
• Common insects: Usually pest free
• Common diseases: Scurf
• Disease prevention: Remove all plant debris after harvest and practice good crop rotation

Harvest & Storage
• Harvest prior to first frost after the weather cools in the fall
• To cure, brush off the soil and place the sweet potatoes in a warm, dry area (80-85°F and 80-90% relative humidity) for 7-14 days
• After curing, handle carefully and store them at 50-60°F

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