How to Grow Yams

Although the term "yams" and "sweet potatoes" are used interchangeably in the United States, the yam is the tuber of a tropical vine and not even distantly related to the sweet potato. Yams require a tropical climate or a heated greenhouse to grow. While growing yams is more challenging than growing many other, more common garden vegetables, your patience and care is rewarded with a crop of sweet, nutritious yams.

Things You'll Need

• Excellent growing medium: rich soil and amendments
• Gardening tools
• A warm climate or a HEATED greenhouse

Instructions

1. Begin by planting slips -- the starts from which the yams grow -- in a hotbed or indoor hothouse starter kit. Plant the slips about 1 inch apart and 2 inches deep in potting soil. Keep the soil well watered but watch that it doesn't get boggy. Maintain the soil temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit; an inside or heated greenhouse start is necessary. This is a tropical plant, so be realistic about your chances of growing it successfully in your climate.

2. While you're waiting for the starts to grow, prepare the growing beds. Yams prefer soft, rich soil. Add plenty of compost and other amendments to achieve a loose, nutrient-heavy soil.

3. Transplant slips outdoors after the last frost date. Yams take as long as a year to mature, so an outside bed may not be a viable option unless you live in a warm climate. Alternatively, plant yams in a heated greenhouse.

4. Fertilize every two weeks with a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorous fertilizer. Too much nitrogen results in lots of leafy growth and not much root growth. Keep the soil moist and be vigilant in weeding and watching for any signs of fungal infections.

5. When the plants have reached maturity, carefully lift the yams out with a pitchfork, being careful to avoid damaging the skin.

Tips & Warnings

• Lots and lots of soil amendments: yams like a rich environment.

• Remember, this is a tropical or sub-tropical plant: it's not going to grow in Minnesota!

References

• Food-Info.net: Yams
• Nutrition-and-you.com: Yams Nutrition Facts