Very few people know a native of Central America - sweet potato, better known as "sweet potato". But very vain, because it contains a large number of microelements necessary for the normal development of the organism.
Meet the sweet potato
Sweet potatoes are elongated tubers of conical shape with a reddish-brown skin, the weight of which can reach 3 kg. Each variety differs from the rest according to taste, color of flesh and texture.
Classify this variety is very difficult, but most often the division into the following groups is used:
- dessert - they are red or pink, have a rich sweet taste;
- vegetable - flesh yellow with a mildly sweet aftertaste;
- fodder - have a white middle and watery taste.
Useful properties of sweet potato
In addition to taste can not but rejoice its composition and influence on the human body:
- Vitamins - A, C, B6.
- Mineral substances - calcium, potassium, manganese.
- Beta-carotene.
- Beta-cryptoxanthin.
- Cellulose.
- Acids - an absorbent, folic and others.
Such components contribute to the improvement of the general human condition, purify the vessels of cholesterol , reduce the level of homocysteine and pressure, prevent the development of cancer and the formation of emphysema .
Since sweet potato is a non-native vegetable, growing in our conditions without certain knowledge about it is difficult.
Cultivation of sweet potato
This delicious and healthy vegetable came to us from countries with a very warm climate, so the most important condition for successful breeding is protection from colds.
It is not the seeds and the tubers of sweet potato that must be planted, but its cuttings. Landing in this way will get you a good harvest. To grow a planting material, a large tuber should be put in water. By measures of germination, cuttings 12-15 cm long are removed from it.
The sprouts are planted in the fertilized land in late April, after the warm weather is established and the earth warms up. Strongly water it will be necessary only during rooting, then it is necessary to reduce, and a month before the harvest - in general, stop.
When grown in northern regions, sweet potatoes are recommended to be planted in beds covered with transparent polyethylene.