Harvesting the Asian Purple sweet potatoes was exhilarating and also a good workout! I added a generous layer of my homemade compost at the beginning of planting. I spent four months of my summer keeping caterpillars picked off of them. Weekly, I checked them to make sure the soil was moist and well-drained. I installed an irrigation system in Spring which went unused for a few months due to the constant rain. Closer to Fall, it became dryer, so it ended up becoming a time saver.
This video has a close-up illustration of how I connect the tubing. I find using a lighter to soften the plastic makes it easier to connect.
Preparing for winter
Lately, as illustrated by the photos, I have begun planting new starts of winter veggies in place of the sweet potatoes. I also have my greenhouse set up and mulched for winter. Yes, I still need to rake the leaves and clean up around my containers. I have spring bulbs and cold-hardy flowers I am experimenting with. I will be updating you soon about my growing projects. For the first time in my life, I will try to raise summer veggies in the same space as my tropical plants. Wish me luck! And now a moment of silence as I say goodbye to the Summer flowers right before frost.
Lake Mary Gardens 