A certain category member of mine insists that only the tuberous root veggies with emollient - colored flesh are real dulcet potatoes . The orange things , she says , are yam plant .
Friends , my dear class penis is wrong . Just about every sweet Solanum tuberosum you see at the store – especiallythe orangish ones – is a rightful sweet potato , also prognosticate “ sweetpotato , ” botanical nameIpomoea batatas .
genuine yams , on the other hand , belong to theDioscoreagenus .
Photo by Meghan Yager.
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Even more fascinating , I. batatasare part of themorning glory syndicate , Convolvulaceae , while straight yams belong to the Dioscoreaceae kinsfolk . yam are completely unrelated to sweet white potato !
These root crops are a desirable addition to any garden that can grow them .
They flourish in zone 6 through 12 but some diversity can arise in cooler zone with adequate accompaniment . Or , I should say , with added warmth . You canlearn all about growing them in our guide .
Most belike cultivated thousands of years ago from wild plants in Central or South America , the sweet tater loves affectionate weather .
Like its remote relative , the white potato vine ( Solanum tuberosum),I. batatasare rich in nutrients . They are an excellent source of vitamin A , especially the orange varieties , and a sound source of fibre , potassium , and vitamin B6 .
These nourishing , tuberous stem come in many colours and various levels of sugariness . Are you quick to meet 21 delicious varieties to grow at place ?
Let ’s get started !
21 of the Best Sweet Potato Cultivars
Before we dive into the list , here ’s a bit of pertinent information about the sweet-scented potato .
On average , these tuberous theme farm four to six inches long , although they can be longer or shorter look on the grow surface area and the time of harvesting .
verbalize of harvest times , the number of days to adulthood described below indicate the number of days to harvest after planting a “ slip , ” which is a baby plant or shoot propagate from a parent root .
The fair vine bedspread is 36 to 48 inch , and the average meridian is six to 10 in . All the variety show recommended below grow to around this size unless I note that they are “ bush ” varieties .
Unlike typical vining varieties , bush types are more compact and therefore better suit to small garden or growing in containers .
Also , if you growI. batata , you’re able to eat the leaves in a salad . They ’re nontoxic and reportedly pleasant-tasting ! And if you happen to get prime , you ’ll feel like you ’re looking at a dawn glorification bloom , because …
… you kinda are . They ’re incredibly standardised . Amazing , correct ?
Without further ado / fixation about how pretty , tasty , and fantastic these plants are , let ’s meet 21 of the best seraphic potato varieties ever !
1. Bayou Belle
If you love the tang of orangish gratifying potatoes but do n’t eff how mushy they get after cooking , judge ‘ Bayou Belle . ’ This belle - of - the - garden has purplish - red tegument and orangish physical body , and it ’s super sugary .
Best of all , it remains firm after cook ! cover specifically for this lineament by Don La Bonte , an expert breeder with the Louisiana State University AgCenter , ‘ Bayou Belle ’ was released in 2011 .
‘ Bayou Belle ’ has firm anatomy that makes her an ideal campaigner for one of my favorite side beauty of all fourth dimension : scented potato child .
For an exciting twist on even deep-fried sugary spud , try this formula for Cajun , oven - broil sweet potato friesfrom our sister website , Foodal .
‘ Bayou Belle ’ matures in 110 to 120 days and is tolerant to the notorious southernroot - knot roundworm , along with soil putrefaction , rhizopus soft rotting , fusarium root rot , and fusarium wilt .
2. Beauregard
desire to grow one of the most popular cultivar ever ? Then grow ‘ Beauregard , ’ the variety ofI. batatayou’ve credibly buy in the past from the food market computer memory .
Developed by horticulturist at the Louisiana State University AgCenter in 1987 to excel in Louisiana ’s red-hot , humid growing conditions , commercial favorite ‘ Beauregard ’ has rose - colored skin and mysterious orange flesh .
‘ Beauregard ’
Good for storage , ‘ Beauregard ’ is sweet , moist , and slimly stringy , and it makes a mythic Proto-Indo European .
This early cultivar matures in 90 to 100 sidereal day and is resistant to streptomyces soil rot and fusarium wilt , but is susceptible to root - knot nematodes .
you may buy sets of 12 or 25 bare roots , aka “ slips,”from Burpee .
3. Burgundy
True to its name , ‘ Burgundy ’ feature pretty red cutis and deep orangish flesh that ’s so scented you wo n’t involve to bring any saccharide – even if you ’re baking a pie !
Another offering from the Louisiana State University AgCenter , ‘ Burgundy ’ was released in 2014 and is tolerant to dirt rot , southerly root - knot nematodes , and fusarium wilting .
It is , however , susceptible to rhizopus soft rot and bacterial cushy rotting .
This excellent cultivar matures in 100 to 120 days and makes a endearing casserole .
4. Centennial
Do you require to grow a high - yielding old favourite among American farmers ?
try out ‘ centenary , ’ an heirloom semi - bush-league variety introduced by the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station in the early ‘ 60s that provides a moist , sugary flavor and absolutely orange skin and flesh .
‘ centenary ’ matures in 100 to 110 days , so it ’s an other mixture suit to northern climates , and the tubers salt away well .
‘ Centennial ’
It is insubordinate to wireworms and strawberry guava root - air mile nematode as well as bacterial root decomposition and wilt , but may be susceptible to other disease .
Still , it is a worthyI. batatavariety that cooks , bakes , fries , mash , and pies well . ( Is “ PIE ” a verb ? If not , it entirely should be . )
leverage set of 12 or 25 slip from Burpeeand get go on your own miniature sweet potato farm . Harvest plants in 90 days for tasty , legal tender “ babe bakers ” that ’ll make your mouth body of water .
5. Covington
Back in 2005 , the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service released a newfangled motley named ‘ Covington ’ after the late Henry M. Covington , an prestigious sweet potato scientist at North Carolina State University .
With its rose - colored cutis , orange flesh , and lightly sugared tone , this moist cultivar make delicious sweet potato fries that are n’t toosugary for the people in your home who prefer savory foods .
Plus , it ’s resistant to russet crack , root - knot nematodes , fusarium wilt disease , and streptomyces filth rot .
‘ Covington ’ matures in 95 to 110 days .
6. Evangeline
One of the quick and light way to enjoy a sugared potato is to pierce the pelt with a fork and pop it in the microwave oven for about five minutes .
This is a trick I watch in college , and if you require to pass the wisdom on to your college - bound acquaintances , hand them a clump of homegrown ‘ Evangeline ’ sweet potato first .
‘ Evangeline ’ is a delightful , super - sugary delicacy with reddish - rose skin and mysterious orangish physique .
The Louisiana State University AgCenter develop ‘ Evangeline ’ in 2008 to taste sweeter than ‘ Beauregard ’ and to have good nematode resistance .
‘ Evangeline ’ is resistant to soil rot , fusarium wilt , rhizopus lenient rot , and fusarium tooth root rot , and extremely resistant to southern root - knot nematodes . This cultivar is susceptible to sclerotial blight . ‘ Evangeline ’ takes 100 to 120 day to senesce .
7. Garnet
With skin as cherry as the gemstone it ’s named for , ‘ Garnet ’ is an former to mid - time of year variety known for its scented , moist , orangish flesh . It taste lovely when scrape on a salad or sliced into fries .
Popular among gardener and Captain James Cook alike , ‘ Garnet ’ was one of the first “ yam plant - alike ” varieties with orange flesh insert to the US market , and it was often mislabeled as such at market stores in the mid-20th one C .
Today , though there ’s some confusion besiege this , it seems to also be referred to as ‘ Diane . ’
This variety in all probability does n’t have the same disease and pest - resistance quality as newer cultivar , but it ’s a tasty raw material in the sweet spud world . ‘ Garnet ’ is ready for harvest 110 days after planting .
8. Georgia Jet
Gardeners in the North and Northeast will hump ‘ Georgia Jet ’ because she gives us a chance to raise sweet potatoes , which are notoriously affectionate - weather condition - loving plants .
We may not be capable to turn up the warmth , but with ‘ Georgia Jet , ’ we only need to wait 90 to 100 days ‘ til she ’s ready for pick .
‘ Georgia honey oil ’
‘ Georgia Jet ’ has reddish - purple skin and moist , fresh , orangish flesh . So , Northern gardener , rejoice : this heirloom is the rapidly growing type we can squeeze into our short summers and serve for descent festivities .
This other potpourri is susceptible to sonant bunk and cracking .
To get started , buy a set of 12 or 25 slips from Burpee .
9. Hannah
If you ’ve been reading this roundup justwaitingfor a pick - fleshed variety , I show ‘ Hannah , ’ one of the good cultivars for those who do n’t worry for the super - sugary orangish varieties .
With light , pinkish - tan pelt and ointment - colored form , ‘ Hannah ’ pleases the palate with her dry , flaky , dense grain and pernicious pleasantness .
I love roasting ‘ Hannah ’ potatoes with red bell peppers , onions , leeks , and carrots for a filling and wholesome side dish . An early multifariousness , ‘ Hannah ’ matures in about 110 24-hour interval .
10. Heart O’Gold
For a variety that ’s tan with a heart of Au , try … well … ‘ Heart O’Gold . ’ With sugary , milklike , golden figure , this is another Louisiana State University AgCenter extend that ’s been satisfying hungry diner since 1948 .
‘ Heart O’Gold ’ ( or ‘ Heartogold ’ ) makes an excellent fry or fleck , and it lends itself well to baking , mash , and roasting , too .
Maturing in just 100 days , this early variety is susceptible to manyI. batatapests and disease , but itisresistant to origin - knot nematodes .
11. Hernandez
‘ Hernandez ’ is known for its smooth , sweet flavor and its resistance to common sweet potato problem , such as fusarium wilt , tooth root - knot nematodes , filth rot , and home cork .
With reddish - brown peel and deep orangish flesh , this heirloom variety is a solid choice for anyone with a slightly picky eater on their hands . ( Do you see me wavingmyhand ? )
Thanks to its legato flesh , ‘ Hernandez ’ does n’t have any of the strings that the youngest of epicure might not have a go at it .
Developed by – you guessed it – the Louisiana State University AgCenter in 1992 , this mid - season cultivar is ready for harvest in 125 days .
12. Jewel
With its fuzz - colored skin and dark orange flesh , ‘ Jewel ’ is a gem , indeed . Sweet , subdued , and moist , ‘ Jewel ’ was grow at the North Carolina Ag Center in 1970 .
A mid - season semi - bush-league variety , this cultivar matures in 120 to 135 days .
That may seem like a tenacious time , but it ’s well worth the wait , and you ’re not likely to experience many topic . ‘ Jewel ’ is resistant to fusarium wilt , root - mi nematodes , angelical potato beetles , and internal phellem . This variety also stores well .
‘ Jewel ’ is stark for turning into chips or fries . If you ’re feeling adventurous , test this formula for sweet Irish potato gnocchi with sage brown butter saucefrom our sister situation , Foodal .
13. Korean Purple
‘ Korean Purple ’ has such gorgeous , jewel - toned , over-embellished skin that you wo n’t be able to stop staring at it .
The creamy - white soma of this heirloom is super - sweet , dry , and fluffy when cook . It may cue you of cotton fiber confect . Or marshmallow , maybe .
With restrained pest and disease electrical resistance , ‘ Korean Purple ’ matures in about 120 to 135 days and name a tasty , colored sweet potato nestling .
14. Mahon Yam
The ‘ Mahon Yam ’ may carry “ yam ” in its name but it is not truly a yam plant at all . alternatively , it ’s a jolly gratifying potato with pink skin and extremely sugary , legato , orangish flesh .
An old heirloom patent by horticulturist John A. Mahon in Chesterfield , South Carolina , and released in 2008 , ‘ Mahon Yam ’ is idealistic for finical eaters because of its stringless flesh .
It ’s also a smart pick for Northern gardeners because it matures in just 90 days , and the genus Tuber store well . The vines sport discrete , seven - lobed leaf .
try on strain them and baking them into these sweet-scented Irish potato blondies with maple glaze , a scrumptious recipe fromour sister website , Foodal .
15. Murasaki
Are you depend for anI. batatacultivar that ’s pleasing to the eyeandthe tongue ?
‘ Murasaki ’ swash bright purple skin and cream - colourize material body that ’s flaky , nutty , and slimly sweet . My rima oris is watering just thinking about blackguard a ‘ Murasaki ’ with a bounty of other veg .
‘ Murasaki ’
release by the ever - prolific Louisiana State University AgCenter in 2008 , ‘ Murasaki ’ is highly resistant to stem - knot roundworm and fusarium soil rot . It ’s also resistant to rhizopus soft decomposition , fusarium wilt , and soil rot .
If you love visually strickle veggie , you wo n’t require to leave out out on ‘ Murasaki , ’ which matures in 100 to 120 day . Find solidifying of 12 or 25 slips online from Burpee .
16. Nancy Hall
Back in the 1930s and ‘ 40 , ‘ Nancy Hall ’ went by the name “ yellow yam , ” thanks to its tan tegument and yellow anatomy .
A moist and sweet midseason heirloom variety , ‘ Nancy Hall ’ matures in 110 to 120 days and make a luscious summation to any Proto-Indo European , mash , or electrocute .
This type stores well though it is noted as being susceptible to black putrefaction and stem rot , so be sure to rotate your crops .
‘ Nancy Hall ’ has a historied past , too . Legend has it that this kind came about after a young gardener name Nancy Hall by chance pass over flower seeds with a potato , resulting in a mellifluous Solanum tuberosum .
An farfetched story , but a merriment one nonetheless .
17. O’Henry
If you ’re not one for mellifluous , damp root veggies , try out ‘ O’Henry . ’ With dry , sweet , emollient - emblazon flesh and chicken - burn skin , ‘ O’Henry ’ is think to be a natural genetic mutation of ‘ Beauregard . ’
Henry Wayne Bailey of Cane Creek Farms in Vardaman , Mississippi , hear it and ‘ O’Henry ’ went out to commercial markets in the 1990s .
‘ O’Henry ’ has similar pest and disease ohmic resistance quality as its parent plant , ‘ Beauregard . ’ It is resistive to streptomyces land bunk and fusarium wilting , but susceptible to radical - knot nematodes .
‘ O’Henry ’ is an early mixed bag , ready for pick about 100 days after planting .
18. Okinawan
There ’s nothing I bang more than a sweet-smelling white potato vine that looks plain on the outside , but then when you cut it open , you discover something wholly unexpected .
If you grow ‘ Okinawan , ’ also know as ‘ Okinawa Purple , ’ you ’ll reap tan or buff - color in sweet potatoes that do n’t look like anything particular . But then , you ’ll slice them clear , and the striking , bright - purple pulp will flummox you .
The flavor and grain of this former heirloom variety is luscious , too : slightly sweet , heavy , and starchy , so they ’re perfect for fries , savory dishes , and salads . ‘ Okinawan ’ matures in 120 to 180 days and is well deserving the wait .
carry from Central and South America by Spanish colonists to China and the Philippines in the fifteenth century , by the 1600s , purple honeyed potatoes made their way to Japan and were initially planted in Okinawa Prefecture .
Once eat out of necessity or else of rice , the tubers became known as a staple of Okinawan diets for hundreds of years , and the region is known in modern times for its long - be inhabitants .
now , ‘ Okinawan ’ is also grown commercially in Hawaii , where fat volcanic soils enhance their anthocyanin - productive purple flesh , and shipped to the mainland for cut-rate sale .
19. Porto Rico
This heirloom is perfect for nurseryman with limited space .
A mutation from a regular vine discover at the Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station , ‘ Porto Rico ’ is a bush variety , which means rather than sprawling outwards , it grows upward .
‘ Porto Rico ’ grows about 12 to 30 inches marvelous with an upward - growing spread of two to three feet . you may constitute each slip 12 to 15 in away from other plant in the garden , let in other bush ‘ Porto Rico ’ plant life .
‘ Porto Rico ’
With copper - colour skin and salmon form , ‘ Porto Rico ’ is sweet and light , ideal for making chips and fries or bake and serving with butter .
It ’s harvesting - quick in 110 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and is immune to fusarium rot , but is susceptible to most other sweet Irish potato cuss and diseases .
you’re able to buy a purse of 12 slipsfrom the Home Depot .
20. Sumor
‘ Sumor ’ has an interesting call to renown : it savour almost exactly like a standard bloodless - fleshed potato , and stores well .
Botanically , it ’s anI. batataplant , though you’re able to use it interchangeably with Irish potatoes in a emergency . ‘ Sumor ’ potato soup , anyone ?
The hide is tan , with yellowed or white material body inside . ‘ Sumor ’ is an other variety that matures in 110 to 120 day and features robust disease and plague resistance .
It ’s resistant to fusarium wilt , root word putrefaction , root word - knot nematode worm , and more .
Fun fact : It ’s named for the erstwhile English word for “ summertime . ” This is one fascinating Irish potato , if you involve me .
21. Vardaman
Did you be intimate that Vardaman , Mississippi , is the Sweet Potato Capital of the World ?
For 48 class now , the town has host theVardaman Sweet Potato Festival , a celebration that includes a 5k ladder , arts and crafts , and plenty of flavorfulI. batatadishes .
The Mississippi Agricultural Extension Service turn ‘ Vardaman ’ in 1981 , discover it for the famed Mississippi town .
maturate in about 100 24-hour interval , mid - time of year ‘ Vardaman ’ boast sugary , smooth , orange flesh . It ’s another bush variety , relieve oneself it perfect for gardener with modified space .
‘ Vardaman ’
It grows to about 12 to 30 inch tall and two to three foot encompassing , although it can be found just 12 to 15 inches from other ‘ Vardaman ’ plants .
‘ Vardaman ’ is susceptible to antecedent - knot nematodes and soil insects , but it is repellent to fusarium wilt . You canpurchase bent of 12 or 25 slips from Burpee .
Make a Batata Frittata (Or Whatever You Want!)
So , booster : what will you do with theI. batatacultivars you turn ? Which unity make you the most eager to get started ?
If I lived in a warmer hardiness zone , I ’d be growing ‘ Okinawan ’ for sure . But since I ’m in Alaska , I ’ll stick with ‘ Georgia Jet ’ and ‘ Mahon Yam , ’ which is marvellous too .
And remember to check out theseroot - veggie roundups , too :
pic by Meghan Yager and Nikki Cervone © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product picture via Burpee and Home Depot . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock . With extra writing and redaction by Allison Sidhu .
About
Laura Ojeda Melchor
