Growing Okinawan Sweet Potatoes: Tips, Benefits and Uses

Okinawan Sweet Potato Seeds: A Nutrient-Rich Superfood

Sweet potatoes are beloved for their mildly sweet flavor, vibrant color, and impressive nutritional profile. But not all sweet potatoes are created equal. The Okinawan sweet potato, in particular, stands out as an exceptionally healthy variety bursting with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Sometimes called the Japanese purple sweet potato, the Okinawan has deep purple flesh and skin. Its pigmented phytonutrients offer remarkable health benefits. As a nutrient-dense superfood, the Okinawan sweet potato can enrich your diet and support overall wellness.

Origins and Cultivation

Okinawan sweet potatoes hail from the island of Okinawa, Japan. They have been grown there for centuries, prized for their rich taste and vibrant purple color.

Compared to standard orange sweet potatoes, the Okinawan variety contains higher concentrations of certain antioxidants. Their deep hues reflect an abundance of anthocyanins, pigments with powerful anti-inflammatory effects.

Okinawan sweet potatoes need warm conditions to grow and thrive. They require approximately 90 to 150 days to reach maturity. While commercial production occurs in Asia, these nutritious potatoes can also be grown successfully in home gardens.

Obtaining Okinawan Sweet Potato Seeds

To cultivate your own Okinawan sweet potatoes, you first need viable seeds or slips. Here are some tips for sourcing them:

Purchase Seed Potatoes

Specialized garden centers and online seed retailers sell Okinawan sweet potato seeds. Choose small, disease-free potatoes to use as your seed stock. Selecting smaller seeds helps redirect the plant's early energy into foliage and root growth.

Order Pre-Sprouted Slips

Slips are sprouted sweet potato vines ready for transplanting. Ordering pre-grown slips from a greenhouse provides a head start on growth. Look for hardy slips about 6-12 inches tall.

Start Slips from Potatoes

You can also sprout your own slips. Suspend sweet potatoes with toothpicks in water and place in a sunny spot. Once shoots and roots emerge, transplant into soil. This takes 4-6 weeks but is inexpensive.

Save Slips from Prior Harvests

If you grew Okinawan sweet potatoes previously, use your own slips. Carefully detach sprouted vines complete with roots from mature potatoes. Replant 12-18 inches apart to establish the next crop.

Growing Conditions

To flourish, Okinawan sweet potatoes require:

• Full sun
• Rich, well-draining soil
• Consistent moisture
• Fertilizer high in potassium and phosphorous
• Shelter from wind
• 105-140 frost-free days

Ideally, the soil temperature should remain above 70°F for optimal growth. Due to their long growing season, start Okinawan slips indoors then transplant outside after all danger of frost has passed.

Planting and Care

Follow these tips for successfully growing Okinawan sweet potatoes:

Prepare Soil

Sweet potatoes flourish in loamy, well-draining soil. Mix in copious amounts of compost or aged manure before planting. Raised beds also encourage drainage and root development.

Space and Bury Slips

Dig trenches or holes 8-10 inches deep. Place slips 12-18 inches apart in rows spaced 3-4 feet apart. Bury the slips deeply, leaving just 2-4 leaves exposed.

Use Fertilizer

Apply balanced liquid fertilizer when planting slips. Side-dress with a potassium-rich mix every 4-6 weeks. This aids tuber bulking.

Water Consistently

Okinawan sweet potatoes need at least 1-2 inches of water per week for robust growth. Soak the entire root zone then let dry slightly between waterings.

Combat Weeds

Mulch well to prevent weeds and retain moisture. Gently hand pull any weeds to protect shallow sweet potato roots.

Hill Soil Over Roots

Gradually hill more soil or mulch around the base of plants. This encourages more root development. Avoid disturbing the roots themselves.

Harvesting Okinawan Sweet Potatoes

Timely harvesting is key to obtaining optimal yields of full-sized, high-quality tubers. Follow these guidelines for the best results:

Wait 90-150 Days

Patiently allow sweet potatoes to mature in the ground for at least 90 days, preferably 120-150 days. Use the longer end of the duration for cooler climates.

Test Tuber Size

Dig around the roots carefully to check tuber size around 90 days after planting. ideally, tubers should be 4-6 inches long when mature.

Harvest After Frost

Okinawan sweet potatoes tolerate light frosts. But dig up tubers within 2 weeks after the first heavy frost for optimal quality.

Cure Harvested Potatoes

Gently brush off dirt but don't wash tubers after digging. Cure them by storing at 80-85°F with 90% humidity for 10-14 days. This sweetens flavor and thickens skins.

Check for Damage

Inspect sweet potatoes closely after curing. Discard any with cuts, cracks, or soft rotten spots, which can lead to decay in storage.

With attentive growing and proper harvesting, you can yield many pounds of delicious, healthy Okinawan sweet potatoes from each plant.

Storing Your Harvest

Proper storage retains the quality and extends the shelf life of your homegrown Okinawan sweet potatoes. Follow these guidelines after curing:

Choose Cool, Dry Storage

Keep cured tubers in a dark space with temperatures between 55-60°F. The humidity should be around 80-90%. A cellar or conditioned garage works well.

Avoid Refrigeration

Chilling damages the taste and texture of sweet potatoes. Only refrigerate any you plan to consume within a week.

Use Slatted Crates or Baskets

Place cured tubers in slatted crates, baskets, or paper bags. Avoid plastic bags, which can trap moisture and accelerate decay.

Inspect Periodically

Sort through potatoes every 2-3 weeks. Remove any with soft spots or mold. Wipe away any condensation that builds up.

Stored properly at 55-60°F, Okinawan sweet potatoes will keep for 4-6 months. Frozen cooked sweet potatoes can last up to a year.

Nutrition and Health Benefits

So what makes the Okinawan variety so special? These purple sweet potatoes derive immense nutrition and health value from their rich antioxidants.

High Antioxidant Content

Okinawan sweet potatoes contain abundant polyphenol pigments called anthocyanins. These antioxidants give the purple potatoes their vivid color.

Antioxidants help fight inflammation and protect your body's cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Chronic inflammation contributes to numerous diseases and aging. The anthocyanins in Okinawan potatoes exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activities to help suppress inflammation.

May Reduce Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Animal studies reveal the anthocyanins in purple sweet potatoes may help control fat-related genes. This anti-obesity effect could also help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome and liver damage.

May Support Blood Sugar Control

In scientific trials, Okinawan sweet potatoes decreased insulin resistance in mice. Their nutrients may aid blood sugar regulation in humans as well.

Vision Protection

Other key antioxidants called carotenoids safeguard your eyes against oxidative damage. Just one Okinawan potato provides 150% of your daily vitamin A needs.

Immune Support

Okinawan potatoes deliver plenty of vitamin C and manganese. This helps reinforce your immune defenses against pathogens and chronic illness.

Cancer Prevention

The anthocyanins in Okinawan potatoes exhibited anti-cancer activities in laboratory studies. Their antioxidants may help deter certain cancers.

Clearly, the vibrant pigments in Okinawan sweet potatoes translate to big health benefits. Incorporating this superfood into your diet bolsters overall wellness.

Using Okinawan Sweet Potatoes

Wondering how to eat Okinawan sweet potatoes? Enjoy their richness by:

Baking or Roasting

Baked whole Okinawan sweet potatoes make for a perfectly sweet and nutritious side dish. Or try roasting cubed potatoes tossed in olive oil.

Mashing

For a twist on traditional mashed potatoes, peel and boil chunks of Okinawan sweet potatoes until tender. Mash with salt, pepper, milk, and butter.

Frying

Slice peeled potatoes into wedges, sticks, or disks. Fry in hot oil briefly until crispy on the outside while soft inside.

Pureeing into Soups

Boil, peel and puree Okinawan flesh into a vivid purple soup base. Or add cubes to vegetable soups and stews.

Baking into Desserts

Muffins, quick breads, pancakes, cookies all benefit from some mashed Okinawan sweet potato. Or make sweet potato pie or cheesecake.

However you choose to enjoy them, Okinawan sweet potatoes liven up recipes with their flavor, color, and nutrients.

The Bottom Line

Seeking an easy-to-grow superfood? Look no further than the Okinawan sweet potato. The purple pigments that make this sweet potato unique also equip it with remarkable health benefits.

Packed with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant nutrition, the Okinawan sweet potato can enrich your diet and fortify your body against chronic disease. Grow your own with some seeds or slips to reap a bountiful harvest of these power-packed purple potatoes.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.