Vardaman Sweet Potato is a compact, bush-form cultivar of Ipomoea batatas that produces deep-orange flesh sweet potatoes with gold skin that darkens beautifully after harvest. Named for Vardaman, Mississippi's famous sweet potato growing region, this variety matures in approximately 110 days and thrives in zones 5 through 9. Its productive, space-efficient growth habit makes it particularly well-suited to home gardens and raised beds where it delivers reliable harvests before the first frost.
16
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
?in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Purple-leafed foliage sets this variety apart visually even before you dig the roots. The compact bush form yields abundant gold-skinned potatoes with vivid orange flesh, and the skin deepens in color after harvest, giving you beautiful roots that store exceptionally well. At just 110 days to maturity, Vardaman matures faster than many long-season sweet potato varieties, making it achievable even in cooler climates.
Vardaman sweet potatoes are used fresh in both savory and sweet preparations: roasted, baked, mashed into pies and casseroles, or candied. Their deep orange flesh indicates high vitamin A content, making them a nutritious addition to everyday cooking. The roots store well, extending their usefulness throughout winter months for everything from holiday dishes to weeknight sides.
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Sweet potatoes are typically grown from slips (rooted vine cuttings) rather than seeds. Plant slips deeply into raised beds, positioning them up to the top leaves. If using live plants, set them even with the soil surface. Keep the soil evenly moist until you see vigorous new growth, which indicates successful establishment.
Transplant slips or live plants into the garden after soil temperatures reach at least 65°F and all frost danger has passed. Space plants 12 to 16 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. Plant deeply, burying slips up to their top leaves to encourage strong rooting.
Harvest Vardaman before the first frost in fall, after the weather has begun to cool. Dig carefully to avoid bruising the roots, as damaged sweet potatoes do not store as well. The skin will darken noticeably after harvest, which is normal and desirable for this variety. Once harvested, cure the potatoes by brushing off soil and placing them in a warm, dry area (80 to 85°F with 80 to 90 percent relative humidity) for 7 to 14 days before moving to storage.
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“Vardaman Sweet Potato carries the name of Vardaman, Mississippi, a region renowned for sweet potato cultivation and long celebrated in American agricultural heritage. This cultivar was developed and selected to reflect the productive character the region is known for, bringing together the compact growth habit and reliable yields that made Vardaman a center of commercial and home sweet potato growing. The variety represents the continuation of Mississippi's sweet potato legacy into home gardening.”