Enhancing local production capacity for propagating commercial sweet potato planting material through improved greenhouse systems

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Sweet potato consumption is increasing in Canada, thus tuber imports are also increasing. There is significant and increasing interest in expanding commercial sweet potato production in Canada to address this growing consumer market. However, one main production limitation is the propagation of planting material (slips). Canadian climate conditions restrict the growing of slips during off season months while the same is not true of the United States (U.S). So Canadian sweet potato growers currently must rely on planting material from the U.S. Sweet potato slip production in greenhouses in Canada is an option but can be expensive and labor-intensive. Therefore, it is important to develop efficient and economical technical growing methodology for producing slips under suitable greenhouse settings that ensure optimum success. This study will contrast slip propagation methods, in a controlled environment growth room versus a modified passive solar greenhouse system to determine the most efficient way to commercially produce slips. The slips produced will then be field tested in field growing conditions for commercial production. The results will provide Canadian seed businesses/propagators an economically feasible process to grow sweet potato slips commercially in greenhouse systems with modified passive solar settings. Using this methodology, local slip producers can provide a higher quality product for growers, impacting crop success and improve yield resulting in further economic gain. Furthermore, local growers will have added control over the availability and quality of planting material. Increasing knowledge and expertise for growing sweet potato slips in Canada will lead to a possible expansion of sweet potato production acreage. Increasing the seeded sweet potato acres will help Canada meet growing consumer demand. As well, the further adoption of modified passive solar greenhouse systems promotes passive energy based technology that will reduce environmental impact and provide year-round production options.