After the sweet potato harvest in the fall, select healthy, disease-free, and vigorous potato vines. Remove the leaves, leaving about 1 cm of the petiole, and cut the vines into sections of two nodes each. This helps promote better root development during the next growing season.
To induce dormancy, soak the cut potato vines in a 0.5% solution of amphiline (available at chemical supply stores) for two minutes. Afterward, remove them and allow the excess moisture to dry off completely. This step helps control growth and prepares the vines for storage.
Prepare a layer of clean, fine yellow sand by sifting it through a sieve to remove any large particles or impurities. Lightly mist the sand with water until it holds moisture but doesn't become soggy. The sand should be moist enough to maintain humidity without being wet.
Next, dig a shallow pit on level ground—its length and width can vary depending on the number of vines, but the depth should be about 0.5 meters. Place the potato vines flat in the pit, alternating layers of vines and sand. Leave a 1 cm gap between each vine to ensure proper air circulation. Each layer of sand should be at least 3 cm thick, with the top layer being no less than 15 cm. In colder regions where frost is a concern, cover the pit with plastic film and add a layer of straw on top for extra insulation. By spring, the vines will be ready to plant along with the sweet potatoes.
This method ensures that the potato vines remain viable and healthy throughout the winter, giving you a head start when planting in the next growing season.Henan chinamian foods CO.LTD , https://www.ooossooo.com