Thick , green foliage grows from single stem . Tubers farm directly under plant for 2 feet . Yeild per works is 2 to 5 pounds . Tuber is white , long and large in size . When planting , space 12 inches apart , in rows .
Google Plant Images : sink in here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
The key to watering is water profoundly and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to good impregnate the root ball . With in - background plants , this means good soaking the grunge until water has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to permit water to flux through the drain holes .
seek to water plant early in the day or later in the good afternoon to economise water and thin down on plant tension . Do urine early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from works leave-taking prior to Nox fall . This is preponderant if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t look to water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
view piddle conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly dribble moisture flat on the root system can be purchased at your local dwelling and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
study adding piss - save gels to the root zona which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of dispute especially under trying condition . Be sure to follow recording label counseling for their use .
weather : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be observe evenly moist and water regularly , as conditions require . Most plant life like 1 column inch of water a hebdomad during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two year after a plant is install , steady lachrymation is important for establishment . The first twelvemonth is critical . It is better to water system once a week and water deeply , than to water oftentimes for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 daytime before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting land site to meliorate birth rate and increase water retention and drainage . If land composition is weakly , a layer of topsoil should be debate as well . No matter if your grunge is moxie or remains , it can be improved by adding the same affair : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the grease . Prepare beds to an 18 in deep for perennial . This will seem like a enormous amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done by and by , once industrial plant have been established .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the root or the fore at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease lacrimation . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaf from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your industrial plant is in a container , throw out the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 parts water supply solution . antifungal agent can be used , harmonise to label directions . confabulate a professional for a sound recommendation of what fungicide to utilise . Diseases : Verticillium or Fusarium WiltWilts may be contracted through infect seeded player , plant debris , or grime . This fungus Begin and multiplies during the coolheaded , moist time of year , becoming obvious when atmospheric condition turn warm and dry . plant wilt because the fungus damage their water conduct mechanisms . Overfertilization can worsen this trouble . able-bodied to overwinter in filth for many years , it is also carried and harbored in unwashed weeds .
Prevention and Control : If possible , select resistant varieties . Keep atomic number 7 - leaden fertilizers to a lower limit as well as over - irrigating as they encourage lush outgrowth . recitation crop rotation and prune out or better yet remove infected works . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , diffuse - bodied , slow - moving insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colouration , graze from gullible to brown to black , and they may have wing . They attack a wide-eyed range of plant species make stunting , deformed leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful works virus with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , in general , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant legal injury . However aphid do produce a sweet-flavored substance bid honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting opprobrious surface growing ring pitchy mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can bring forth up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often seem when the surroundings changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branch feeding on lush tissue . aphid are attract to the color yellow and will often thumb on yellowed vesture .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , specially around desirable plants . On edibles , wash off infect expanse of plant . peeress bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . search the recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a tee . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripe variant of moths and butterfly . They are voracious feeders assail a panoptic mixed bag of plant . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as folio feeders , stem borers , leaf rollers , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout individual plants and take away caterpillars , apply judge insect powder such as soaps and oil , take advantage of innate enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar specie . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet levels are excessively eminent and fungous spores present in the soil , come in contact with the susceptible works . The base of staunch discolor and quail , and will further up the stalking wilt and die . Leaves near base are feign first . The roots will turn black and rot or break . This fungus can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mixture or contaminated weewee .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard surrounding grime . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only utilise fresh , sterilize soil mix . entertain back on fecundate too . examine not to over water plants and check that that soil is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drain soils . Pest : Flea BeetlesFlea Beetles are about the size of a flea and are black , bronze , or sorry - black in color . They get their name from the way they jump when disturbed . Flea beetle populations are usually more austere when conditions are red-hot and dry . They can beat problem in the garden ; they leave lowly hole in masticate foliage .
Prevention and control : You ’ve try it a thousand times , but here it is again - clean up the garden to remove property where these insects over winter . A well - watered , damp garden will not be as attractive to an egg laying mother either . Aside from handpicking , spray with a recommended insecticide . culture between dustup will help oneself to put down eggs , too . Diseases : southerly BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or near , the soil occupation . These lesions develop rapidly , girdle the stem and result in a sudden and permanent wilt of the plant . high-pitched temperature ( above 85 degree F , 29 degrees C ) favour the disease . The fungus assail a wide range of industrial plant and survives for tenacious periods in dirt . To control , treat with a commend antifungal concord to label guidance . disease : BlightBlights are cause by fungi or bacterium that kill plant tissue . symptom often show up as the rapid spotting or wilting of foliation . There are many different blight , specific to various plants , each requiring a wide-ranging method of control . Pest : Colorado Potato Beetle
Colorado Potato Beetleis 1/3 inch long , has black and yellow striped wing covers , and a key drear sensationalistic thorax , or " " vest " " , with black spot . Grubs , which are about 1/4 the size of the grownup , are ruddy - brown with little , black spots . Adults and larvae feed on folio and stems , leaving behind black excrement . Their rapacious eating riding habit can be devastating .
Problems begin in the outpouring when adult beetle go forth from the soil to give and lay hundreds of egg on the undersurface of leaves . There can be up to 3 generation per yr .
Miscellaneous
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphids , leafhopper , and thrips under control . These plant feeding louse spread out computer virus . Viruses can also be introduced by septic pollen or through plant openings ( as when cut ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be check out , as well as dick and existing plant . Use only certified seed that is deemed disease - free . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not imbed closely link plant in the same surface area every yr . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begins with a over fertilizer .
