Exploring the Diversity of Sweet Potato Varieties for Your Garden

Ah, the sweet potato. A delightful root vegetable that adds color and flavor to any garden. But did you know that not all sweet potatoes are created equal? There are a wide variety of cultivars, each with its unique characteristics and flavors.

Let’s dive into the world of sweet potatoes and discover 21 of the best varieties to grow in your garden. From savory to sweet, orange to purple, there’s a sweet potato for every taste bud.

The Sweet Potato vs. Yam Debate

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Before we get started, let’s clear the air about the sweet potato vs. yam confusion. While the terms are often used interchangeably, true yams belong to the Dioscorea genus, while sweet potatoes, or sweetpotatoes (botanical name Ipomoea batatas), fall under the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae.

Most of the sweet potatoes you see in stores are, in fact, true sweet potatoes, not yams. True yams are unrelated to sweet potatoes and belong to an entirely different botanical family.

Now that we’ve settled that debate, let’s move on to exploring the wonderful world of sweet potato varieties.

21 Delectable Sweet Potato Cultivars

Here’s a list of 21 mouth-watering sweet potato cultivars, each with its unique characteristics and flavors.

Bayou Belle
A purplish-red skin with firm orange flesh that remains firm after cooking.
Resistant to various diseases.
Ideal for sweet potato fries.
Beauregard
A popular commercial variety with rose-colored skin and deep orange flesh.
Excellent for pies and storage.
Resistant to specific diseases.
Burgundy
Pretty red skin and sweet orange flesh.
Suitable for casseroles and other dishes.
Resistant to common diseases.
Centennial
An heirloom variety with moist, sugary flavor and orange skin and flesh.
High yielding and stores well.
Resistant to certain pests.
Covington
Rose-colored skin and orange flesh.
Good for fries and resistant to several diseases.
Ideal for a savory dish.
Evangeline
Super-sugary treat with red-rose skin and orange flesh.
Good nematode resistance and suitable for various dishes.
Great for roasting and versatile in cooking.
Garnet
Early to mid-season variety with red skin and moist orange flesh.
Ideal for salads and fries.
Popular and visually appealing.
Georgia Jet
Reddish-purple skin and sweet orange flesh.
Suitable for northern climates and early harvesting.
Ideal for fall festivities.
Hannah
Cream-fleshed variety with a dry, flaky texture.
Great for savory dishes and a delightful side dish.
Suitable for roasting and baking.
Heart O’Gold
- Tan skin with a golden heart and sweet, milky flesh.
- Excellent for frying and baking.
- Resistant to pests and a long-standing favorite.