Makatea Treasure Island is a sweet potato cultivar from the Convolvulaceae family, prized for its exceptional nutritional profile and reliable performance in warm climates. Hardy in zones 9 through 11, this variety thrives in full sun and moderate water conditions, making it well suited to subtropical and tropical gardens. Plant slips deeply into raised beds, spacing them 16 inches apart with 12 inches between rows, and you'll be harvesting nutrient-dense tubers rich in vitamin A by fall. The variety's name evokes its island heritage, connecting gardeners to a lineage of tropical agriculture.
16
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
?in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Sweet potatoes belong to the morning glory family, not the yam family as many assume, giving them a botanical identity quite distinct from African yams despite their similar appearance. This cultivar demands full sun exposure and thrives in slightly acidic soil between pH 5.8 and 6.2, conditions that unlock its full potential. Harvest timing is critical: wait until after the first frost when cooler weather signals peak tuber maturation, then cure your potatoes in warm, humid conditions before storage to ensure they keep for months.
As an edible tuber, Makatea Treasure Island sweet potatoes are used fresh in both savory and sweet preparations. Their high vitamin A content makes them valuable in nutritionally focused cooking, whether roasted, boiled, mashed, or incorporated into soups and stews.
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Start sweet potato slips indoors in conditions between 65 and 85°F. Plant slips deeply into raised beds, inserting them up to the top leaves; live plants should be inserted even with the soil line. Keep soil evenly moist until you observe new growth.
Transplant after soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently and frost danger has completely passed. Space transplants 16 inches apart with 12 inches between rows.
Harvest after the first frost, when cooler fall weather has peaked tuber maturity. Dig carefully to avoid bruising the potatoes. To cure, brush soil from the tubers and place them in a warm, dry location maintained at 80 to 85°F with 80 to 90 percent relative humidity for 7 to 14 days. This curing process hardens the skin and extends storage life significantly.
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