Growing Sweet Potatoes in Western WA
Sweet potato (Ipomea batata) can grow well in Washington with the right variety selection and if soil warming measures are provided in Western Washington. Sweet potato provides a new crop for soil rotation and diversifies market offerings. This presentation will describe the basics of growing sweet potato in Western Washington based on our experiences at WSU NWREC in Mount Vernon and the experiences of more than 60 farmers and 30 gardeners that participated in the research. Pest concerns, tips for being successful in the short Western Washington growing season, curing and storing, and slip/transplant production will be covered. Growing guides and supportive resources will be shared.
About the Speakers
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Selena Ligrano
Peak Moon NurseryWhat began as a small backyard nursery five years ago has grown into Peak Moon Nursery, a Vashon Island-based nursery rooted in a shared passion for plant cultivation, food systems, and community. Selena brings more than 15 years of experience in landscaping and vegetable production, along with a background in sustainable food systems and community education. She previously managed Tilth Alliance’s Culturally Relevant Organic Plant Starts (CROPS) program, distributing more than 10,000 plant starts annually to underserved communities, and later served as a lead researcher and co-lead for the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Food Donation Workgroup. Keaton brings more than 20 years of experience in woodworking and custom fabrication. Together, they grow diverse edible plants suited to the Pacific Northwest while highlighting unique and lesser-known varieties from around the world. This past year, Peak Moon grew more than 300 varieties, including 54 types of tomatoes, and introduced five varieties of sweet potato slips at the local farmers market. While this was their first year growing sweet potato slips, the response was a tremendous success, and they look forward to expanding the offering next season.
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Carol Miles
Washington State UniversityCarol Miles is a professor in the Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, based at the Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center (WSU NWREC). She specializes in vegetable crop production, with a strong interest in alternative crops, sustainable cropping systems, and organic production. Her current research program focuses on tea propagation, sweet potato production for northern climates, using soil-biodegradable plastic mulch for vegetable and fruit production, and mechanized cider apple orchard systems.
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Laurel Moulton
Washington State UniversityLaurel Moulton is a Senior Extension Coordinator with the Washington State University Regional Small Farms Program, based on the Olympic Peninsula. She provides integrated pest management technical assistance for farmers in Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap Counties and enjoys facilitating on-farm research opportunities for small farms, and community science opportunities for gardeners. She currently works with farmers on growing sweet potatoes, water conservation and more.
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Jules Riske
Hedlin's Family FarmJules Riske is the co-owner and operator of Hedlin’s Family Farm, along with her husband Kai Ottesen. Together they are farming alongside the 3rd generation of Kai’s family as they continue a long-term farm transition. Hedlin’s Family Farm sells direct through an on-farm retail store in addition to wholesale crops on approx. 20 acres. Jules has a BA in ecological agriculture from The Evergreen State College, which led her to working and learning to farm at Blue Heron Farm. She has worked within the vegetable seed industry and the organic certification program, and is now back to farming full time.
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