Breeding Sweet Potato in Australia

[whwoz]

Now for the interesting photos, a group of five showing the bee coming out of one flower and then heading down into the other flower next to it.  The best progress that I could have hoped for but I was expecting it to fly after coming out of the first flower otherwise I would have a shot of it crawling around the rim of the first flower.  It was definitely well covered in pollen.  Hope you like them

[whwoz]

Checked today, no flowers on Beauregard and at least one on the ornamental grr....

[Richard Watson]

Interesting markings on that bee, is it a native?

[whwoz]

Interesting markings on that bee, is it a native?

I assume so Richard,  I don't know a lot about our native bees and as far as I am aware,  the only introduced bee we have around here is the honey bee.

[whwoz]

Finally had two different varieties out in flower together today,  the ornamental and Beaurgard,  just a pity that the day was cool,  overcast,  and with the odd shower. No pollinators active and highly unlikely that pollen would take if attempted by hand

[whwoz]

Found buds on one of the Japanese clones today,  if I have the plants correct.   Flowers on the Beaurgard did not take.   Thinking I will take slips off each variety as I harvest and pot them up and float on the dam over winter,  as long as we don't have severe frosts they will survive and I can get a jump start next season.   With the ongoing expansion of the vegetable garden here (25 x 14 m),  I will have room for two rows, one lot I will try to water stress to see that enhances flowering

[Richard Watson]

Found buds on one of the Japanese clones today,  if I have the plants correct.   Flowers on the Beaurgard did not take.   Thinking I will take slips off each variety as I harvest and pot them up and float on the dam over winter,  as long as we don't have severe frosts they will survive and I can get a jump start next season.   With the ongoing expansion of the vegetable garden here (25 x 14 m),  I will have room for two rows, one lot I will try to water stress to see that enhances flowering

And what would be heavy enough of a frost to kill them ya reckon

[reed]

Only takes a very light frost to put a stop to sweet potatoes.

[whwoz]

A link with some interesting reading from the Sweet Potato industry in Australia

https://www.aspg.com.au/past-projects/

Still to harvest my SP's.  I need to get it done but home schooling the kids thanks to Covid19 is killing my time

[Steve1]

A link with some interesting reading from the Sweet Potato industry in Australia

https://www.aspg.com.au/past-projects/

Still to harvest my SP's.  I need to get it done but home schooling the kids thanks to Covid19 is killing my time

Ditto, home schooling eh. After the belting of rain we had last night I need to harvest soon. Yes, the plan with the pH is to get some rock dust from a recommended local supplier. When COVID allows.

[whwoz]

Managed to find 5 minutes to start harvesting the sweet potato today.  A very light frost this m morning has tickled up a few tops a bit.  Those in the dam still look good by comparison.

Only managed to get enough time to dig 4 of the "Beauregard"  SPs,  these have a redder skin than what I was expecting.   Maybe Evangeline?

Tops measured roughly 2.5m/8 feet long and Weighed one cluster of roots,  3.2 kg/ 7 lb or just over,  roughly 28lb or 12kg from the 4 if looks are any guide.  Roots weighed were from the plant that flowered the best, about 10 pieces of that plant floating in dam now.

Photos taken and will be posted shortly

[reed]

Sounds like a great yield! I have wondered what a good yield per plant might be. I'm sure mine are not yielding as much as they might because the way I grow them has so far been for maximum number of plants and selection for being seedy. Small pots or over crowded in the ground and little attention to meeting optimal soil or water conditions.

I'm looking forward to arriving at point I can declare that phase complete or at least generally so and start paying more attention to learning how to maximize yield.

[whwoz]

Reed,  I have heard of some linker roots weighing up over 10 lb, not the sort of roots that I want. 

Dug three more orange ones today, 2, 4.5 and 5.5 kg or roughly 4.5, 9, and 11 lb under them.  The longest runners have been 2.7m/9 feet. 

Dug one Purple flesh, white skin plant today as well 7 roots under it, four small and three around one foot long. Growth around 8 feet long

[reed]

Aw no, those giant ones are no good at all. I call them clunkers. I've see some where you have to dig a giant hole just to get them out of the ground and still lots end up broken or chopped up by the shove. Ideally I would like to see about a dozen or more per plant, each weighing about a 1/4 lb or so. 

[whwoz]

Agree re clunkers: whatever you call them, just to big. Size wise, personally, consider that single serve for a family of four is what I want,  so somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 pound each, with odd one up to a pound ok. Number of roots per plant:  probably seven or eight at that size.   Understand smaller size as single serve.  I also need to start a harvesting plan that gets them out of the ground when the weather is more suitable for curing them.