Hydroponic Sweet Potato Harvest: Growing Purple Okinawan Sweet Potatoes

Discover how to get a hydroponic sweet potato harvest indoors and harvest a bountiful crop using hydroponics and coco coir.

Hydroponic Sweet Potato Harvest

So today I am going to harvest my first bucket of hydroponic sweet potatoes.

I have 4 buckets filled with coco coir in a 2×4 flood tray on a top feed drip irrigation system under an HLG 650R LED grow light.

The first bucket came out with 2 large sweet potatoes weighing 4 pounds 12.5 ounces but later I found another that I missed so I am sure there are 5 pounds now.

Sweet Potato Harvest Video

Here is a video that shows the harvest from the first 5-gallon bucket:

I still have 3 buckets left to harvest. When I do I will update with a final weight.

I have an article that talks about my setup Growing Hydroponic Sweet Potatoes: 5 Hydroponics Tricks

If you want to try growing the Purple Okinawan sweet potato yourself you can get it on Amazon.

Purple Okinawan Sweet Potato Taste

They have white skin but are purple inside. They are very sweet and have a different taste from regular sweet potatoes.

They are drier and the taste is nuttier reminding me of roasted chestnuts.

I had a Filipino friend who would bring in pastries filled with purple sweet potato filling.

I always thought it was dyed but now I know it wasn’t and was probably this variety or one very similar.

Sweet Potato Vine Growth

These plants grew like crazy and the vines totally engulfed my grow closet. They were drinking over 20 gallons of nutrient solution every week and towards the end, they needed to be refilled before the week was ended.

I withheld some water at the end in an effort to slow the vines down. Some vines died back but most continued to grow.

I wanted the plants to finish naturally. I thought maybe they would flower and die back but they never did.

So after 6 months, I decided to harvest them. I heard from a gardening friend everyone that who tried growing them only got vines and no sweet potatoes.

But he said if anyone can do it he thought I could. Thankfully he was right.

Hydroponic Sweet Potato Harvest Final Results

I have emptied out the last 3 buckets and the final yield was 16 pounds of Purple Okinawan sweet potatoes.

Bucket #1 was 5 pounds and was covered in the first video video

Bucket # 2 had 2 large sweet potatoes weighing 2 pounds 10 ounces.

Bucket # 3 had 5 long sweet potatoes but they were much smaller only weighing in at 11.8 ounces. I don’t know why there were smaller.

Bucket #4 was the heaviest yielding with 7 pounds 12.5 ounces. They were growing into the bottom of the bucket and it was much harder to empty.

Hydroponic Sweet Potato Harvest FAQs

How long does it take to get a hydroponic sweet potato harvest?

Expect roughly 5–7 months from planting slips to harvest, depending on variety, light, and temperature.

What are the signs sweet potatoes are ready to harvest indoors?

Thickened roots visible when you tip the bucket, slowed vine growth, and 2–4 weeks after a noticeable swelling period.

Can sweet potatoes really form tubers in coco coir or hydro systems?

Yes. With strong light, consistent feeding, and ample root volume, tubers form well in coco and recirculating/drip systems.

What container size works best for indoor hydro sweet potatoes?

Use at least a 5-gallon bucket per plant to give roots and tubers room to expand.

What nutrient strength and pH should I aim for?

Target pH 5.8–6.2 and moderate EC (about 1.2–1.8 mS/cm). Ease back late in the cycle to avoid excessive vine growth.

Do I need intense lighting for tuber development?

Yes. High-output full-spectrum LEDs help drive both foliage and tuber formation for a substantial harvest.

My vines won’t stop—should I prune them?

Light pruning is fine. Avoid heavy, repeated cuts; focus on guiding vines and maintaining airflow.

Should I reduce water near harvest time?

Moderate reduction can slow vine vigor and encourage finishing, but don’t let coco fully dry or stress the plant.

How do I harvest from a bucket without damaging tubers?

Tip the bucket, loosen coco by hand, and gently pull tubers free. Work slowly to avoid snaps and skin tears.

Do Purple Okinawan sweet potatoes taste different?

Yes—nuttier and slightly drier than orange types, with a chestnut-like flavor and vibrant purple flesh.

Should I cure indoor-grown sweet potatoes?

Yes. Cure 7–10 days warm and humid, then store cool and dry. Curing improves sweetness and shelf life.

What yield can I expect per 5-gallon bucket?

Yields vary widely by setup and variety; 2–7+ lbs per bucket is achievable with strong light and good nutrition.

Can I replant slips from the harvest?

Absolutely. Save healthy tubers to sprout new slips for your next indoor cycle.

Common issues to watch for?

Excessive vines, low light, cramped containers, and overwatering. Keep airflow high and roots well-oxygenated.

Final Harvest Video

Here is a video that covers harvesting the last 3 buckets and below it are some pictures of the harvest.

Purple Okinawan Harvest Pictures