Pingyao Sweet Potatoes

Pingyao Sweet Potatoes

　　Introduction to Pingyao Sweet Potatoes

　　 Introduction to Pingyao Sweet Potatoes The scientific name of the sweet potato is Ipomoea batatas, belonging to the Convolvulaceae family, the genus Ipomoea, species batatas, and it is an annual trailing herbaceous plant (in the north). In our county, sweet potato production generally uses seedbeds for sprouting and relies on vegetative propagation. Sweet potatoes are light-loving crops that thrive in warmth but are sensitive to cold, as well as being relatively drought-resistant. Typically, in normal years, the yield per mu averages 2,000 kilograms, with a maximum of up to 4,000 kilograms. Across Pingyao County, except for Mengshan Township — where the climate is too cold and elevations exceed 1,000 meters, making it unsuitable for cultivation — all 13 townships grow sweet potatoes to varying degrees. The main planting areas are concentrated in Xiangle, Ninggu, Dujiacun, Zhongdu, Duan Village, Buyi, Hongshan, and Nanzheng townships, with a perennial planting area of around 15,000 mu and a total yield of approximately 30 million kilograms. The varieties are mostly local, farmer-retained seeds, with about one-fifth sold (as roasted sweet potatoes). Product quality is highest in the sandy loam soil of hilly or semi-hilly regions, primarily in Duan Village Township.