Bill Dugan, Editor and Publisher of Food Gardening Network

Welcome to the delightful world of potato and sweet potato gardening!

The average American eats over 100 pounds of fresh potatoes and 8 pounds of fresh sweet potatoes every year. And both are fun and easy to grow in your home garden.

Potatoes are a staple of the American diet. And sweet potatoes are delicious and nutritious. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide for you about growing, harvesting, and eating—with some easy-to-prepare and tasty recipes—your own home-grown potatoes or sweet potatoes.

In this collection’s Introduction, learn some history and basics about potatoes—to get you ready for growing your own. We’ll give you an overview of the similarities and differences of the potato and sweet potato (spoiler: they’re not related, but we treat them like they are when we cook). Then, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about potato and sweet potato gardening—from types of plants and soil preparation to watering, weeding, and controlling and preventing disease.

If you’ve already had a potato or sweet potato plot, some of this may be familiar to you. But, stick with it, because you’re certain to learn something new, especially when it comes to the history of potatoes and sweet potatoes and the recipes!

 In Plant Profiles, we’ll look at the growing schedule of potatoes and sweet potatoes, so you can plan your planting and harvesting accordingly.

While there are about 4,000 varieties of potatoes and 7,000 varieties of sweet potatoes, we’re going to give you a sampling so you can decide what fits your gardening schedule. If you’d like us to include other varieties that appeal to you, please let me know by commenting below.

We are, after all, a network of food gardeners—for and by fellow food gardeners—who want to enjoy all the benefits of growing our own delicious food at home!

One of the things that makes Food Gardening Network such a good resource is the collection of super easy and delicious Recipes, so that you can enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are no exception!

From the slow cooker to the air fryer, we have an assortment of recipes sure to be a hit at your table. Enjoy your harvest with these fun recipes, and enjoy the accolades as you sit down to dinner!

Next, you’ll learn Nutrition Facts about Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes to find out exactly which nutrients they contain—and to what degree—and the most common compounds. Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes shows you how key nutrients in these vegetables can help prevent some diseases, such as heart disease and some forms of cancer. You’ll also learn all about other benefits and uses for potatoes and sweet potatoes, besides just enjoying their garden-fresh deliciousness.

If you want to explore more about potato and sweet potato growing, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you everything you need to grow, harvest, and eat delicious potatoes and sweet potatoes, but feel free to take a deeper dive into these additional resources by visiting the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts.

Now, go and plan the perfect potato patch!