Diced, sliced, baked, sautéed or mixed in pies; sweet potatoes are a family favorite packed with flavor and vitamins. But growing them on the Olympic Peninsula has been traditionally difficult. Now, with new cultivars more suited to our maritime climate, it is possible to grow these tasty tubers west of the Cascades! Learn how by joining Washington State University Clallam County Extension Regional Horticulture Specialist Laurel Moulton for the Green Thumb Education Series presentation “Growing Sweet Potatoes.” Gardeners will learn the basics of growing sweet potatoes, from propagation through curing and storage.

The Green Thumb Education Series presentation “Growing Sweet Potatoes” will be held in person on Thursday,  December 14th from noon – 1:00 p.m. at the Port Angeles Library’s Carver Room, 2210 S. Peabody St. in Port Angeles and will be broadcast live via Zoom.

Find a direct link to the live presentation here.

Or join by phone: 253-215-8782

Meeting ID: 936 2989 8830

Passcode: 676224

Sweet potatoes are usually grown in warmer places, such as the southeastern U.S. and southern California, but it is possible to achieve a good yield in our area with a little effort. “The longer day length of northern latitude helps make up for the cooler growing season, but growers still need to plan their garden well to be successful,” Laurel said.

Laurel has been partnering with researchers at the WSU Northwest Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon to conduct sweet potato growing trials in our area for the last two years. “The trials are looking for wireworm resistant sweet potatoes that grow well in our area, since wireworms are a primary pest that has few organic management methods,” she said. Trials are also examining plant spacing, the effect of harvesting greens on root yield, and which existing commercial cultivars are most successful for farms in our area.

Laurel has been a Master Gardener since 2006, and coordinator of the Clallam County Program for six years, between 2013 and 2014, and then from 2019 to the present. She also enjoys interacting with farmers in Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap Counties as a specialist in Integrated Pest Management. She holds a master’s degree in horticulture systems with a minor in entomology from Oregon State University.

The “Green Thumbs Garden Tips” education series, sponsored by the Washington State University Clallam County Master Gardeners, is held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month through October. In November, December, and January, one lecture is offered. Scheduled presentations are subject to change. Visit the WSU Extension Clallam County website calendar for the latest information on upcoming presentations. For questions, call 360-565-2678.