Sweet Potato

Enjoy more fruits and vegetables

Grow

From Root to Stem

Did you know sweet potatoes and potatoes are different?

Both are vegetables but sweet potatoes are roots and

potatoes are underground stems called tubers. Sweet  

potatoes are long and tapered.1,2,3

Potato Perplexity

SomeƟmes, sweet potatoes are called yams, but yams

and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams are typically

grown in African and Caribbean countries. True yams are

rare in the United States.1,2,3  

Availability

In North Carolina, sweet potatoes can be planted in May

and June. Instead of planƟng seeds, sweet potatoes are

grown from the sprouts of a bedded root called “slips.”

For planƟng, soil temperatures need to be 65o

F. Slips

should be planted 12 inches apart.2

  

Sweet potatoes require warm temperatures, growing all

summer. They are harvested in the fall. Sweet potatoes

are available year round in North Carolina.1,2

Choose

There are over a thousand varieƟes of sweet potatoes.

Popular ones include Covington, Beauregard, Evangeline,

Carolina Ruby, and O’Henry. Murasaki Purple and Grand

Asia are fun varieƟes to try.  Sweet potatoes can be      

orange, white, beige, yellow, pink, purple, violet and red.  

Sweet potatoes should be clean, firm, fairly well‐shaped

with skins fairly even in color. Avoid potatoes with any

decay or discolored, shriveled, soŌ or sunken areas. This

decay can cause an unpleasant flavor.1

Store

Store in a cool, dry, well‐venƟlated at room temperature,

60‐65o

F. Use within 2‐3 weeks. While ripening, some

fruits and vegetables produce ethylene gas. Sweet        

potatoes are sensiƟve to ethylene and can turn brown

and develop an off‐flavor. Store away from ethylene    

producers, like apples and pears.1,2,5

Fun Fact: N.C. is the #1 producer of sweet potatoes in the

United States. Almost 50 percent of sweet potatoes

grown in the U.S. are grown in the state.1,4  

Fun Fact: Did you know you can eat raw sweet potatoes?

They are delicious and nutriƟous, raw or cooked.1

Fun Fact: February is Sweet Potato Month.1

Fun Fact: All of the sweet potato is edible, even the skin.

For extra fiber, try leaving the skin on when eaƟng.1

Use

Sweet potatoes are sold whole (raw); as sƟcks, cubes, or

discs (fresh or frozen); cut, mashed or pureed (canned); or

dried. They are a versaƟle vegetable. OŌen, they are

served baked, mashed or fried, but they can be steamed,

boiled, microwaved, pureed, sƟr fried, sautéed or juiced.

Wash raw sweet potatoes before cuƫng or preparing.1,5Vegetable

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 08/14 

http://childnutrition.ncpublicschools.gov 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA 

State Board of Education 

Department of Public Instruction 
Sweet Potato

Eat

A s‐w‐e‐e‐t choice and a super food!

Sweet potatoes are super‐charged with beta‐carotene,

vitamins A and C, manganese, and fiber. Our bodies can

turn beta‐carotene into vitamin A. Vitamin A promotes

normal vision, supports the growth and health of cells and

Ɵssue, protects us from infecƟon and helps regulate the

immune system. Vitamin C helps form collagen to hold

muscles, bones and Ɵssues together, protects us from

infecƟons and bruising, aids in healing, keeps our gums

healthy, helps our body absorb iron and folate from

plants, and acts as an anƟoxidant to prevent cell damage.

Manganese plays an important role in forming bone and

converƟng carbohydrate, protein, and fat into energy.

Insoluble fiber aids digesƟon. Soluble fiber helps lower

cholesterol. Sweet potatoes are cholesterol free and low

in sodium and fat. About 100 calories are in one medium

sweet potato (2 inches in diameter, 5 inches in length).1,6,7

Teach

Around the World

Sweet potatoes originated in the tropical Americas at

least 5,000 years ago. Christopher Columbus introduced

the sweet potato to Europe. Later explorers introduced

them to Asia. Today, China is the largest producer of

sweet potatoes in the world.3

  

PresidenƟal Potato

Before becoming the first United States President, George

Washington was a sweet potato farmer.6

Class AcƟvity

Materials Needed:

 Clear glass jar (large enough to fit the sweet potato)

 Wooden toothpicks

 Sweet potato  

 Water

Steps:

1. Push 3‐4 toothpicks into the sweet potato forming a

circle around the center of the sweet potato.

2. Place the pointed end of the sweet potato into the jar

unƟl the toothpicks rest on the top of the jar.  

3. Fill the jar with water to cover the boƩom half of the

sweet potato.

4. Place the jar in a window sill to allow the sweet potato

to have access to sunlight.

5. Watch for the buds to form roots down into the water

(in 2‐3 weeks). Keep adequate water in the jar.

6. Watch for green leaves to sprout from the top of the

plant. (The leaves grow as a vine.)

7. Plant the sweet potato into a pot, hanging basket or

garden to conƟnue to grow.

8. Have students observe, measure and record growth.6

Enjoy more fruits and vegetables

Fun Fact: The sweet potato became the North Carolina

state veggie in 1995 aŌer students at Elvie Street School

in Wilson wrote leƩers to the N.C. General Assembly.4

Find

For more sweet potato facts and resources, visit:

1. www.ncsweetpotatoes.com

2. www.ces.ncsu.edu

3. hƩp://lancaster.unl.edu/nep/fruitveggie.shtml

4. www.ncagr.gov

5. www.fns.usda.gov/tn/fruits‐vegetables‐galore‐helping‐

kids‐eat‐more

6. www.sweetpotato.org

7. www.eatright.org

Potato Puzzles

Students can do math and science problems based on

producƟon, consumpƟon and the nutriƟonal value of

sweet potatoes. They can survey their peers about how

they like to eat sweet potatoes. They can write a poem,

song or report. Classes or the whole school can conduct a

recipe contest or a challenge to encourage students, staff 

and their families to enjoy more sweet potatoes.

Fun Fact: Sweet potatoes can be used for more than just

eaƟng. Using many experiments, George Washington

Carver, an African American scienƟst, worked to create

over 100 new products from sweet potatoes such as ink,

flour, starch, tapioca, vinegar, syntheƟc rubber, stains,

dyes, paints and medicine.6

Vegetable

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 08/14 

http://childnutrition.ncpublicschools.gov 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA 

State Board of Education 

Department of Public Instruction