White Yam Sweet Potato is a nutrient-dense variety of Ipomoea batatas prized for its exceptional vitamin A content. Hardy in zones 8-11, this cultivar matures in 120 days and produces edible tubers that thrive in full sun with moderate water. The variety bridges two often-confused plants: while true yams hail from African subtropical shrubs, sweet potatoes belong to the morning glory family, making this American native a distinctly different crop with its own culinary tradition.
16
Full Sun
Moderate
8-11
?in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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These sweet potatoes deliver serious nutritional punch, boasting exceptional vitamin A levels that make them a standout choice for health-conscious gardeners. The variety adapts well to warm-climate growing across zones 8-11 and reaches harvest maturity in a reasonable 120 days. Plant slips should be set deeply into raised beds for best establishment, and the tubers respond well to the curing process that develops their sweetness and extends storage life.
White Yam Sweet Potatoes are eaten as a cooked vegetable, valued primarily for their edible tubers. The exceptional vitamin A content makes them a nutritional staple in health-conscious cooking, suitable for roasting, baking, mashing, or incorporating into savory and sweet dishes alike.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start slips indoors in warm conditions, maintaining soil temperatures between 65-85°F. Transplant into trays and grow under warm conditions until ready to move outdoors.
Plant slips deeply into raised beds, pushing them up to the top leaves for strong establishment. Alternatively, live plants should be set even with the soil line. Transplant after soil has warmed sufficiently to support the 65°F minimum growing temperature. Keep newly planted slips evenly moist until new growth emerges, signaling successful establishment.
Harvest prior to the first frost after weather cools in the fall. Days to maturity are calculated from the planting date, with this variety reaching harvest readiness at 120 days. Dig carefully to avoid damaging the tubers.
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“Sweet potatoes belong to the Convolvulaceae family, the morning glory clan, and were domesticated in the Americas long before European contact. Unlike their African yam cousins from subtropical shrubs, sweet potatoes represent a distinctly New World agricultural gift. This white yam cultivar carries forward that American heritage, though detailed information about its specific breeding history or preservation lineage is not available in current records.”