Sweetpotato Varieties
Averre
Skin color: Orange tolight rose; fades in storage
Flesh color: Orange
Disease resistance:
- Fusarium wilt: Resistant
- Streptomyces soil rot: Moderately resistant
- Southern root knot nematode: Moderately susceptible
- Guava root knot nematode: Susceptible
NC State University release, 2018
US Plant Patent: US PP29,942
Narrative: Averre is a high yielding, blocky variety with a length similar to Beauregard, but with straighter roots. Packout of No.1 roots is high. Bedded roots produce good numbers of uniform plants. Heat stress will cause some veining. It is not a long-term storage variety and should be grown for the fall and winter markets. Moist, smooth and sweet type baked.
Carolina Ruby
Skin color: Red
Flesh color: Dark orange
Disease resistance:
- Fusarium wilt: Resistant
- Streptomyces soil rot: Moderately resistant
- Southern root knot nematode: Susceptible
- Guava root knot nematode: Susceptible
NC State University release, 1998
Reference: HORTSCIENCE 34(1):155–156. 1999.
US Plant Patent: Not patented
Narrative: Carolina Ruby is a high yielding, blocky variety with a deep red skin. Vines are trailing and thin. Bedded roots produce high numbers of uniform plants. Wet conditions near harvest will cause prominent lenticels. Cold, late season harvests may cause some air cracking. A moist, sweet, nice flavored baked product.
Covington
Skin color: Light rose skin; fades in storage
Flesh color: Orange
Disease resistance:
- Fusarium wilt: Resistant
- Streptomyces soil rot: Resistant
- Southern root knot nematode: Resistant
- Guava root knot nematode: Susceptible
NC State University release, 2005
Reference: HORTSCIENCE 43(6):1911–1914. 2008.
US Plant Patent: US PP18,516
Narrative: Covington is currently the major table stock cultivar in NC, shapes are generally blocky, yield is high with a good packout of No.1 sized roots. Roots need a long pre-sprout for optimal bedding plant production. Roots will be short when planted in cool soils. Holds up well to packing and shipping. One of the best for handling wet harvest conditions. Moist, smooth and sweet when baked.
Jewel
Skin color: Orange
Flesh color: Orange
Disease resistance:
- Fusarium wilt: Resistant
- Streptomyces soil rot: Susceptible
- Southern root knot nematode: Resistant
- Guava root knot nematode: Resistant
NC State University release, 1970
Reference: Pope, Daniel T., L. W. Nielsen, and Norman C. Miller. Jewel: A New Sweet Potato Variety for North Carolina. Raleigh, N.C.: Agricultural Experiment Station, North Carolina State University at Raleigh, 1971.
US Plant Patent: not patented
Narrative: Jewel was the main cultivar grown in NC in the 1970’s and 80’s but was replaced when Streptomyces soil rot became widespread. It has blocky shaped roots and a high packout of No.1 roots. It is a prolific plant producer in beds. Planting in cool soil temperatures will cause bally roots. It does not handle flooding well. It stores and ships well. Not recommended where Streptomyces is present. Moist, smooth and sweet when baked.
Monaco
Skin color: Rose skin; fades in storage
Flesh color: Dark orange flesh
Disease resistance:
- Fusarium wilt: Resistant
- Streptomyces soil rot: Resistant
- Southern root knot nematode: Resistant
- Guava root knot nematode: Susceptible
NC State University release, 2021
US Plant Patent: US PP34,125
Narrative: Monaco was released for a combination of traits useful in both organic and conventional production systems. The plant is upright and compact, which helps suppress weeds within a row, while allowing for extended cultivation between the rows. It has a good disease package and has good resistance to soil insects. Shapes are consistent and stay short in deep sands. It is a longer season cultivar, 2-3 weeks more than Covington. It can have prominent lenticels under wet conditions. Storage is good, but shelf life after packing has been varied. Moist, sweet and smooth when baked.
N.C. Porto Rico 198
Skin color: Light orange skin
Flesh color: Light orange flesh
Disease resistance:
- Fusarium wilt: Susceptible
- Streptomyces soil rot: Susceptible
- Southern root knot nematode: Susceptible
- Guava root knot nematode: Resistant
NC State University selection released in 1966
Reference: Pope, Daniel T., and M. W. Hoover. N.C. Porto Rico 198: An Improved Strain of the Porto Rico Sweet Potato Variety. Raleigh, N.C.: Agricultural Experiment Station, North Carolina State University at Raleigh, 1966.
US Plant Patent: Not patented
Narrative: Porto Rico was the dominant variety in the US in the 1930’s – 1950’s. This release is an improved hill selection with higher beta carotene and a more uniform orange flesh than what was commonly available. It was well liked for the combination of a moist and creamy texture, sweetness and a complex flavor. It has been replaced with higher yielding, shorter season, more disease resistant varieties.
Purple Majesty
Skin color: Dark purple
Flesh color: Dark purple flesh
Disease resistance:
- Fusarium wilt: Resistant
- Streptomyces soil rot: Susceptible
- Southern root knot nematode: Susceptible
- Guava root knot nematode: Susceptible
NC State University release, 2021
US Plant Patent: US PP34,093
Narrative: Purple Majesty has elliptic, uniform shapes. It is well adapted to sandy soils producing high yields and a high packout of No.1 roots. Storage is OK and it ships well. Bedded roots produce good numbers of thick, sturdy plants that survive transplanting very well. Plants in beds are 10-14 days later than Purple Splendor. It does not handle flooding well and bottom land prone to being wet should be avoided. It has a moderately dry texture and is moderately sweet when cooked.
Purple Splendor
Skin color: Dark purple
Flesh color: Purple
Disease resistance:
- Fusarium wilt: Resistant
- Streptomyces soil rot: Resistant
- Southern root knot nematode: Resistant
- Guava root knot nematode: Susceptible
NC State University release, 2021
US Plant Patent: US PP34,126
Narrative: Purple Splendor has uniform, blocky to round elliptic shapes. It stays short in deep sands. It is a prolific plant producer and needs to be spaced widely in beds to prevent overcrowding of plants. It stores and ships well. It has a moderately dry texture and is moderately sweet when cooked. It has a high packout of No.1 roots. Under heat stress there will be some veining. An outstanding combination of yield and shape in a purple fleshed variety. It has a moderately dry texture and is moderately sweet when cooked.
B94-14 Beauregard
Skin color: Light rose skin
Flesh color: Orange flesh
Disease resistance:
- Fusarium wilt: Resistant
- Streptomyces soil rot: Moderately resistant
- Southern root knot nematode: Susceptible
- Guava root knot nematode: Susceptible
NC State University selection of Beauregard
Reference: HortScience 27:377. 1987.
US Plant Patent: Not patented
Narrative: Beauregard is a widely adapted LSU variety. In deep sands it can get long. Hill selection was made in NC for a less twining vine that set more roots helping control the size and shape of this variety. Other characteristics are the same.