Note: Sweet potato is not common in the north central regions but a few vegetable projects in western Omusati grow large plots of irrigated sweet potato. Varieties of sweet potato are presently being promoted all over the area, and sweet potato may therefore become more important in the future. DESCRIPTIONA creeper with characteristic trumpet-shaped flowers that are white or white with purple. The wines grow long and at the end of the season they cover the ground completely. Leaves vary considerably depending on the variety. Some varieties have deeply lobed leaves, similar to the fingers on a hand, others have entirely round leaves. After 3-5 months, large tubers develop underground, they are characterized by their skin colour and the flesh colour. The crop is grown from wine cuttings, never from seed.USEThe leaves are used for spinach and tubers are used as a staple food. There is no information on how to prepare the leaves as the plant is still rare in north central Namibia.POTENTIAL FOR CULTIVATIONSweet potato grows well in irrigated plot in northern Namibia. The crop is relatively free of pests and diseases and is more suited to the warm climate than the English potato. Few farmers, however, have access to irrigation so the crop is presently being tested as a rain-fed crop. On deep sandy soils it seems to grow well, but more testing is needed.Even if sweet potato may turn out to grow well in the dry climate, it is difficult to keep enough planting material (wines) until the next rainy season. SIMILAR SPECIESA range of wild species of the Ipomea family.
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