Let us know what you are harvesting now in your garden. With all this rain, humidity and warmth, things are growing great. I know, so are the weeds. Stay safe. Stay cool.

image from thedailygarden.us

image from gardenerspath.com 

We are in a rainy situation that is for sure.  We only got a few rain drops yesterday, but it has rained already this morning.  Looks like more coming.  Already it is 70F(20C).  We are having very high humidity.  I can’t believe how the crops are growing with rain, humidity and warmth.  They are growing quickly for sure, and all look nice and green.  How is your garden growing?  Has there been a harvest yet?  I would think radishes, green onions, lettuce, peas.  Let me know. Stay cool, stay dry, and stay safe.   

Australia family and friends for June 26 Thursday will have low of 40F(4C) and high of 54F( 12C)).  They are predicted rain with wind gusts up to 20 MPH making the temperature feel like 34F(1C).  Cool, damp winter day for them.  Stay warm, stay safe. 

Like I have been saying, I am open this week Monday -Friday 9-6.  We are closed on Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th for our 50th wedding anniversary.  I will be open June 30, July 1, July 2, July 3. Closed on the 4th and the weekend.  THEN you know what is starting July 7 we will be loading up and taking things to the fair.  Franklin Fair Co will be starting July 9th.  Becky’s Greenhouse will be there.  Here we go. 

Do you know of any greenhouse grower that plants for just sales in June and July?  I guess I am one of those.   Here is another plant that we are growing for June, July sales eatable sweet potato vines.
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Ready to grow something sweet in your garden? Sweet potatoes aren’t just tasty and nutritious—they’re garden rockstars! With their tropical vibes, sprawling vines, and vibrant orange roots, these heat-loving plants thrive with minimal fuss. Whether you’re in the sunny South or giving them a go up North with raised beds and clever hacks, we’ll show you how to turn a humble root into a delicious harvest.  This nutritious, sweet-tasting root vegetable is heat-tolerant and pest-resistant.
Though commonly grown in the South because they require warm weather, sweet potatoes can be successfully grown in northern regions, too.
About Sweet Potatoes
The sweet potato is a tropical plant and is actually a member of the Morning Glory family. Compare a sweet potato vine’s foliage and flowers to those of morning glory, and you’ll see the family resemblance! Despite their name, they are not related to potatoes, which are in the nightshade family. Another difference between sweet potatoes and “standard” potatoes is that the edible portion of the sweet potato is a tuberous root, not a true tuber (which are technically modified plant stems).
This root vegetable has deep-orange flesh and a coppery skin jacket. Sweet potatoes are commonly served cooked in mashed form or roasted whole. They may also be used as pie filling.
Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Sweet potatoes aren’t too picky, but they do prefer soil on the sandier side. They need plenty of air space for their roots to reach down. If your soil is clayey, rocky, or compacted, consider growing in raised beds.
Add compost, perlite, and/or coconut coir to the growing area to build fertile, loamy soil down to 8 to 10 inches. Avoid adding animal manure, including pelleted chicken manure; it can result in spindly and/or stained roots. Also, avoid heavy nitrogen fertilizers, which produce lush leaf growth at the expense of the edible roots!
How to Plant Sweet Potatoes
Create raised mounds 6 to 8 inches tall and about 12 inches wide.
Plan 3 feet between mounds so there is enough space for vines to run.
Plant the slips on a warm, overcast day when the soil temperature has reached 60°F (15°C).
Break off the lower leaves, leaving only the top ones.
Set the slips deep enough to cover the roots and the stem up to the leaves. Sweet potatoes will form on the nodes.
Water with a high-phosphorus liquid fertilizer, then water generously for 7 to 10 days to make sure that the plants root well.
Growing
Side-dress the sweet potato plants 3 to 4 weeks after transplanting with 5-10-10 fertilizer. If you have sandy soil, use more.
Weed the sweet potato beds regularly, starting 2 weeks after planting.
Avoid deep digging with a hoe or other tool that disturbs the delicate feeder roots.
Water regularly, especially during midsummer. Deep watering in hot, dry periods will help to increase yields.
Do not prune sweet potato vines; they should be vigorous.
Late in the season, reduce watering to avoid cracking of the sweet’s skin—a problem in storage.
sweet potatoes planted in the garden make a nice ground cover
We think sweet potatoes make a nice ground cover, too!
Growing Sweet Potatoes in Containers
Bush-type sweet potato plants are ideal for container growers. The vines that they produce are short and compact, not sprawling like typical sweets—but the roots are full size, not miniatures.
While slips mature, prepare a large container or tub. (A too-small container can result in small, curly sweets or fewer than hoped for.) A 10-gallon container can support two or three sweet potatoes; a 20-gallon, four to six. A half-barrel container (20 to 25 gallons) is ideal. Place the container where it will receive full sunlight every day. (It will be heavy to move once filled and planted.)
Sweet potato like moist but not wet soil; the medium must be well-draining and rich; sweet potato are also heavy feeders. Provide potting mix amended with compost, sand, bonemeal (for potassium), and wood ash (for potash). Minimize nitrogen or risk producing heavily leafy tops and spindly roots. If you purchase a bush variety, soak the roots in water for a few hours before planting.
Plant slips 3 to 4 weeks after the last spring frost, when the soil has warmed to 65°F and nighttime temperatures are at least 55°F. Mulch with black plastic before and during the season, if necessary, to capture or retain heat. Set slips 4 inches deep on a bed of compost, then cover up to their bottom leaves. Water with a high-phosphorus liquid fertilizer (5-10-10) for 7 to 10 days to ensure that the plants root well.
I have three kinds here to plant
‘Beauregard’ (90 days) originally comes from Louisiana, but grows well in the North, too. It has dark red roots, dark orange flesh, and stores well.
‘Vardaman’ (110 days) is a bush type and good for small gardens; it has unique blue/purple foliage, golden skin, and reddish-orange flesh; stores well.
O’Henry  is white sweet potato variety that's a stabilized mutation of the Beauregard sweet potato variety. This variety was named after a Mississippi farmer, Henry Bailey, who was known for growing these. O'Henry sweet potato plants produce elongated sweet potatoes with pointed ends. The sweet potatoes have a tan-colored skin and a white flesh. O'Henry sweet potatoes have a lighter, more delicate flavor than their orange sweet potato counterparts. This is a great variety for making fries or chips. Many of our customers will mix this variety with Irish potatoes for a more nutritious mashed potato preparation.
O'Henry Sweet Potato Growing Tips:
Our O'Henry sweet potato plants will consistently produce mature sweet potatoes in 90 days. They can, however, be left in the ground closer to 100 days in northern states. It grows very similar to Beauregard and produces beautiful clusters of delicious sweet potatoes under the main plant vine. 
Sweet potato plants should not be planted in cool soils. Wait until your backyard garden soils have warmed in late spring or early summer. Sweet potato plants should be given 10-12" of space along the row and the ideal row spacing is 4'. Consistent watering without over saturation will provide the highest yields.
Taken from  https://www.almanac.com/plant/sweet-potatoes
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse, beckygreenhouse.com