When we first started looking into growing purple potatoes, one of the first things that came up were the Stokes purple sweet potatoes, Ipomoea batatas, also called, Stokes purple.

So we bought some and stuck them in soil and now they’re sprouting beautifully!

Created by a Farmer to Help Revive the Struggling Tobacco Farmers

Stokes is a county in North Carolina, near where we live. So it made sense that Google would serve up that search result for us first, and we were delighted to discover this treasure of a find, not only growing so close to us, but locally cultivated.

Created by a North Carolina native farmer, Mike Sizemore, the Stokes purple sweet potato is more than a delicious potato to grow, it’s also transforming and restoring farming in NC!

Many former tobacco farmers have now replaced their tobacco crops in decreased demand, with these exotic purple sweet potatoes with growing demand. It’s an easier crop to grow, brings in higher prices per pound due to its exotic classification in the market, and uses the same equipment used for tobacco farming.

Article Table of Contents

• The Origin of the Stokes Purple
• Difference Between Stokes Purple vs. Other Purple Sweet Potatoes
• How Do Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes Taste?
• 7 Reasons to Grow Purple Sweet Potatoes
• About Mike Sizemore and Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes
• Growing Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes
• Steps for How to Grow Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes
• Are Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes Easy to Grow?
• When to Plant Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes by USDA Hardiness Zone
• How to Grow Purple Sweet Potatoes from Slips
• How Long From Planting to Harvest for Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes?
• Are Stokes Purple Potatoes Pest and Disease Resistant?

The Origin of the Stokes Purple

The lineage of the ‘Stokes purple’ plant is unknown. Mike Sizemore received a gift of a purple-skinned, purple-fleshed sweet potato. From this single root, slips were produced, and these slips were used to produce plants.

After approximately three growing seasons, the inventors discovered the unique characteristics of the ‘Stokes purple’ during outdoor cultivation in Stokes County, North Carolina, USDA Zone 7A.^[1]https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP17976P2/en

What’s the Difference in the Stokes Purple Sweet Potato Vs. Other Purple Sweet Potatoes?

Unique Characteristics of the Stokes Purple

• large storage roots
• has deep purple skin
• and deep purple flesh
• it is the only purple-fleshed, purple-skinned sweet potato able to grow in the Southeastern US. (others that grow in this region are white-skinned, purple-fleshed storage roots.
• the purple Stokes maintain its purple color after cooking

You can learn more about Mike and the purple sweet potatoes in the video at the end of this short article. Here’s a table of contents to help you find what you most want to know more quickly.

We link the Stokes purple sweet potato patent held by Mike Sizemore, in the footnotes here. It provides the origin details on this Stokes County, NC purple sweet potato variety.^[2]https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP17976P2/en

What is Stokes Purple Sweet Potato?

The Okinawan and Hawaiian sweet potatoes are similar to the Stokes purple, however the latter has been developed from sweet potatoes of unknown origin that were gifted to Mike Sizemore years ago. Over time, Mike farmed the potatoes and also worked to refine them in collaboration with the NC state extension service. There goal was to develop a more disease resistant variety.

How Do Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes Taste?

Purple sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants. It has a slightly sweet and nutty flavor and a creamy texture that makes it a popular ingredient in both savory and sweet dishes.

Some popular ways to prepare Stokes purple sweet potato include roasting, baking, boiling, and mashing. It can be used as a substitute for regular sweet potato in recipes, and is often used in dishes like pies, cakes, pancakes, and fries.

When cooked, purple sweet potatoes have a slightly denser texture than other varieties, making them a popular choice for baked dishes and casseroles.

The flesh of purple sweet potatoes is a vibrant purple color, which can add a unique visual element to dishes. Overall, purple sweet potatoes are a delicious and nutritious addition to a wide variety of recipes.

7 Reasons to Grow Purple Sweet Potatoes

1. Potatoes are relatively easy to grow, and provide substantial, filling food.
2. Potatoes are a great crop for raised garden beds.
3. Purple sweet potatoes are highly nutritious and contain 13 different anthocyanins (antioxidants).^[3]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6864833/
4. The nutritional profile makes purple sweet potatoes exceptionally beneficial for health and wellness.
5. Purple sweet potatoes are delicious and unique.
6. Purple sweet potatoes are attractive on the plate and in dishes, and make pretty purple pies!
7. Sweet potato leaves are also edible and nutritious, thereby doubling the food and nutritional value!

We’re already growing Purple Majesty Potatoes, and come June, will be planting Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes in our new metal raised garden beds.

About Mike Sizemore and Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes

Growing Purple Sweet Potatoes

To grow purple sweet potatoes, you can start by planting slips, which are small sprouts that develop on the sweet potato. Slips can be purchased from a nursery or can be grown at home by sprouting a sweet potato in water or damp soil. Once the slips are several inches tall, they can be transplanted into the garden.

Steps for How to Grow Purple Sweet Potatoes

1. Choose a planting location: Stokes purple sweet potatoes prefer warm, humid climates and can be grown in a variety of soil types but prefer loose, well-draining soil.
2. Prepare the soil: Before planting, add compost or well-rotted manure to the soil to improve its nutrient content and structure. The pH level of the soil should be between 5.0 and 6.5.
3. Plant the sweet potato slips: Sweet potato slips are young plants that have grown from sprouted sweet potatoes. Plant the slips in the prepared soil, making sure to space them about 12 inches apart in rows that are 3-4 feet apart.
4. Water regularly: purple sweet potatoes need consistent moisture, so water them regularly to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Avoid watering the plants during the last 3-4 weeks before harvesting to prevent the roots from rotting.
5. Fertilize the plants: Sweet potatoes are heavy feeders and require a balanced fertilizer that is rich in potassium. Apply the fertilizer once a month, starting about a month after planting.
6. Harvest the sweet potatoes: The sweet potatoes are ready to harvest when the leaves start to turn yellow and wither. Dig them up carefully using a fork or shovel, being careful not to damage the roots.

Stokes purple sweet potato can be a rewarding crop to grow, and with the right conditions and care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious and nutritious sweet potatoes.

Are Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes Easy to Grow?

Yes, Stokes purple sweet potatoes are relatively easy to grow, as long as you have the right growing conditions. They require full sun and well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Sweet potatoes are also heat-loving plants, so they prefer warm temperatures and can be sensitive to frost.

When to Plant Sweet Potatoes by USDA Hardiness Zone

The ideal time to plant Stokes purple sweet potatoes varies depending on your USDA Hardiness Zone. As a general rule, purple sweet potatoes are warm-weather plants that require a long growing season, so they should be planted after the last frost date in your area.

Guidelines for planting Purple Sweet Potatoes by USDA Hardiness Zone:

• Zones 9-11: In these warm regions, Stokes purple sweet potatoes can be planted in the spring or early summer for a fall harvest.
• Zones 7-8: In this zone, Stokes purples can be planted in late spring for a fall harvest.
• Zones 5-6: For cooler regions, Stokes purple sweet potatoes can be planted in late spring or early summer for a fall harvest.
• Zones 3-4: In cold regions, these purple sweet potatoes can be challenging to grow. But home gardeners can start the slips indoors in spring, then plant them in the ground after the last frost for a fall harvest if the growing season is long enough.

Colder regions with shorter growing seasons may be able to grow purple sweet potatoes through to harvest with the use of frost covers or in a greenhouse. These may protect the plants should there be late spring or early fall frost threats, however, sweet potatoes do not like the cold.

Specific planting time for Stokes purple sweet potatoes in your area may vary based on local weather patterns and other factors. So it’s always a good idea to check with your local cooperative extension service for more specific guidance on planting times in your area.

How to Grow Sweet Potatoes from Slips

1. Obtain sweet potato slips, which are small sprouts that have grown from a mature sweet potato. You can purchase slips from a nursery, or grow them at home by sprouting a sweet potato in water or damp soil.
2. To grow your own slips, place a sweet potato in a jar of water, suspended partially out of the water by toothpicks, like many of us used to do in grade school. Or, you can use a container of damp soil and keep it in a warm, sunny location. In a few weeks, you should start to see sprouts emerging from the sweet potato.
3. Once slips are several inches tall, they can be carefully removed from the sweet potato and transplanted into the garden, or into a small glass or vase of water to grow roots. Once roots form, plant the slips in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter with a pH between 5.8 and 6.2.
4. When planting the slips, be sure to bury them deeply enough so that only the top few leaves are visible above the soil. This will help the sweet potato plant establish a strong root system.
5. Water Regularly: As the sweet potato slips grow, water regularly, to keep the soil moist but not soggy as this can cause the tubers to rot.
6. Trellis the vines: As the sweet potato vines grow, you can train them to climb a trellis or support structure. Trellising saves garden space by growing vertically. We like to make these simple bamboo teepee trellises.
7. Harvest 100-120 days: Sweet potatoes average 3.5 months to mature. When the leaves of the sweet potato plant start to yellow and die back, it is a sign that the tubers are ready to be harvested.

How Long From Planting to Harvest for Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes?

Stokes purple sweet potatoes are typically ready to harvest from between 100-120 days after planting. They can be harvested by digging up the tubers carefully from the soil.

Are Stokes Purple Potatoes Disease Resistant?

Sweet potatoes can be susceptible to diseases such as root rot if the soil is too wet. Proper care and attention to soil and watering needs can help prevent these issues.

What Pests Plague Purple Sweet Potatoes?

Stokes Purple sweet potatoes are generally considered to be relatively pest-resistant, but they can still be susceptible to pests known to plague sweet potatoes. Prevention is key through healthy plants and practices.

1. Sweet Potato Weevils: Sweet potato weevils are a type of beetle that can cause significant damage to sweet potato crops. They lay their eggs in sweet potato roots, and the larvae feed on the roots, causing stunted growth and poor yields. To control sweet potato weevils, it’s important to practice good crop rotation and remove any infected plants from the garden. Insecticides can also be used to control infestations.
2. Wireworms: Wireworms are the larvae of click beetles and can cause damage to sweet potato tubers by tunneling through the flesh. To control wireworms, it helps to practice good garden hygiene by removing any decaying plant material from the soil. Insecticides can also be used to control infestations.
3. Slugs and Snails: Slugs and snails can cause damage to the leaves and tubers of sweet potato plants. To control slugs and snails, it’s important to keep the garden free of debris and to remove any hiding places, such as piles of leaves or rocks. Barriers such as copper tape or diatomaceous earth can also be used to keep slugs and snails away from sweet potato plants.
4. Flea Beetles: Flea beetles can cause damage to sweet potato leaves by feeding on the foliage. To control flea beetles, it’s important to practice good garden hygiene and remove any infected plants from the garden. Insecticides can also be used to control infestations.

By practicing good garden hygiene and keeping an eye out for signs of pests, you can help prevent infestations and protect your purple sweet potatoes from damage.