How to Grow Yams at Home

Sweet potatoes come in two varieties, moist and dry fleshed. The moist-flesh types are sweeter and softer when cooked and are often called yams in the U.S. According to Purdue University Cooperative Extension, true yams are not related to sweet potatoes and can only be grown in tropical climates, making them an impractical crop for much of the U.S. Sweet potatoes, however, can be grown in most home gardens. They do take some extra care but the reward is well worth it.

Garden trowel
Sand
Sweet potato transplants
Hoe

Instructions

- 1
  Till the soil to a depth of 8 inches two to three weeks before planting. Amend it with sand if your soil is heavy or rich in clay. Sweet potatoes need warm, sandy soil to grow properly. Hard or compacted soil does not allow enough room for the storage root to grow. Mound tilled soil into ridges 18 inches wide spaced between 30 and 36 inches apart. Ridges should be between 8 and 10 inches tall.
- 2
  Set plants 18 inches apart and plant them at a depth of 4 inches. Sweet potatoes are best planted as transplants. They can either be ordered online or purchased from your local garden center. Plant them in the evening and water immediately.
- 3
  Give your sweet potatoes at least 1 inch of water per week. One, deep watering is more effective than frequent, light watering.
- 4
  Pull or hoe weeds regularly. Weeds harbor insects and disease so keeping them out of your garden is important. Take care not to damage sweet potato roots if you use a hoe.
- 5
  Harvest when immature or when vines turn yellow. Once you harvest your sweet potatoes store them in a warm, moist place for about 10 days. During this curing period starch is converted to sugar, improving the flavor of your crop.

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