May I ask how did you do with your sweet potatoes? I read that it is a long reason plant. And where did you get the slips? I am thinking trying next season. Thanks.

I have grown them in NJ, and they do quite well, especially the shorter season varieties. Here's a link to Green Country Seed Savers, where we have a number of threads on sweet potatoes. Most of the forum members experience more heat than you. But most of the info will still be applicable.

When I was growing up in NJ, I had a mentor in his 70s. He grew hundreds of pounds of sweet potatoes every year. His favorite was Puerto Rico.

You are lucky to have a mentor. I have been trial and error all the way. I found this forum handy to learn from others

I grow them here in Cumberland County. They grow well for me. Two years ago I bought a few varieties from "Georges tator farm" - they have a website. Last year I started my own slips. I grow beureagard, Georgia jet and Nancy hall. They all grow well but the Nancy hall has low yields but they are a white fleshed sweet potato that I enjoy. I was starting them under plastic but last year I did half in black plastic and half under wood chips and did not see a difference in growth. The plastic tends to attract mice towards end of season who will eat the sweet potatoes. I will forgo the plastic mulch next season.

Amusing now, but I tried a few, having purchased starter vines from a store in S. Jersey that has gone, now. Got sweet potato shaped holes in the ground, and a few parts with distinct gnawing marks by rodents.

Apparently, I forgot to include the link to Green Country Seed Saver's forum on sweet potatoes. I'll do that now.

Green Country Seed Savers/ potatoes & sweet potatoes

Maplegarden, you might try growing Grand Asia. It is a purple skinned, white fleshed, drier variety. It produces 2 to 4 times more than any other variety I've tried, and, it's early, meaning it may well size up better in your shorter season. It is almost my very favorite.

Here's a picture of the harvest from two plants of Grand Asia.

George

You can also try organic sweet potatoes from the story as a first year test, just make sure to get organic as they spray growth retardant on them to prevent them growing in the stores. I got Beauregard, started slips around 10-8 weeks early and planted some in a greenhouse and some in a raised bed to see how yields were affected. The only noticeable difference was that the greenhouse grown potatoes were much darker, but both tasted delicious.