Development of early maturing, high yielding sweet potato varieties for Canada’s short season climates 

The sweet potato is a tropical plant native to Central and South America, with most commercial production occurring in warm regions with long frost-free periods.

Sweet potato acreage across Canada is on the rise driven by advancements in cultivar development, agricultural practices, and slip production in existing Canadian greenhouses which have expanded Canadian sweet potato cultivation into regions with varying climates and growing seasons, and with limited access to propagative material.  In 2022, Canadian sweet potato acreage was estimated to be over 2,800 acres (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2023) representing a 56% increase in the past five years.  While southern Ontario and Quebec remain primary production areas, other provinces such as Atlantic Canada, the Prairies, and British Columbia are also contributing to Canada’s growing sweet potato industry.

Traditionally, the leading commercial varieties grown in Canada have been developed in the southern United States with its conducive climate. Such varieties can take up to 132 days to reach maturity.  This has become problematic for Canadian growers who can’t plant their sweet potatoes in early spring due to cold soil temperatures and must harvest early in the fall season before the first frost, resulting in a shorter growing season.  One strategy to assist growers in harvesting sweet potatoes in Canada is to develop better-adapted varieties that are earlier maturing and high-yielding.  Vineland developed its own proprietary varieties and co-developed varieties with Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter.  The varieties Radiance and Luminance, which were co-developed with LSU, have been commercialized in Canada.  Vineland’s proprietary lines have been licensed and commercialized in Europe and are currently undergoing further evaluation across Canada.