Michael / Chgowiz 🎲🎲May 20

Anyone live in the Zone5 area (northern-central Midwest US) and grown sweet potatoes using the "black plastic method"? (create a ridge, cover it w/blk plastic, cut holes in top and plant slips through holes)

I ask because the seed company (Harris Seeds) says I should leave plastic in place till harvest.

Instructions say "central/southern locations should remove after a month"

W/Climate change, its getting warmer in Zone5! What do you think?

#gardening #zone5b #NorthernIllinois

Show threadYoraMay 20

@chgowiz It should help reducing evaporation and keeping the soil moist. (But could also interfere with getting it wet.)

The layer right under the plastic could get very hot, but I don't think the heat would penetrate very deeply down before dissipating deeper into the ground.

If sweet potatoes grow like potatoes, I would be surprised if they somehow overheat from this. But I've not seen it tried either.

Show threadMichael / Chgowiz 🎲🎲May 20
@yora Well, it will be an experiment for sure! I might pull it in late July, we'll see.
Show threadYoraMay 20
@chgowiz Do half and half. One's the control.
Show threadMichael / Chgowiz 🎲🎲
@yora that actually was what I was going to do! :P
May 20 at 2:56pmWeb