I've recently started a small kitchen garden. I would dearly like to grow SWEET potatoes. Has anyone any idea if this is possible even in the Uk? If yes, it should also be possible in Ireland. Thanks very much and I look forward to your advice.

Celia, April 2008

I thought you could grow anything in The Kingdom! I'm sure you know that joke told by Brendan Grace about the tourist and the Brussels Sprouts?
Sweet potatoes are tropical or sub-tropical plants. You could grow them in the British Isles but it would need to be under glass, as apparently they need about 24 to 26 C. Soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5 recommended and plenty of nitrogen. They are a different species (Ipomoea batatas) to the potato and can be grown from seed or stem cuttings. They are perennial but grown as annuals.

JD, April 2008