Beauregard Sweet Potato: Complete Growing & Cooking Guide

By Maya Gonzalez
Beauregard Sweet Potato: Complete Growing & Cooking Guide
The Beauregard sweet potato is the most widely grown orange-fleshed variety in the United States, delivering exceptional yields, disease resistance, and rich beta-carotene content. This LSU-developed cultivar matures in 90-100 days, contains 400% of your daily vitamin A needs per serving, and offers superior culinary versatility for both home gardeners and professional chefs.

When you're searching for sweet potato beauregard information, you want clear facts about growing conditions, nutritional advantages, and culinary applications—not generic content that wastes your time. This guide delivers precisely what you need: field-tested cultivation techniques, verified nutritional data from agricultural research institutions, and chef-approved preparation methods that maximize flavor and texture.

What Makes Beauregard Sweet Potatoes Unique

Developed by researchers at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in 1987, the Beauregard variety (named after a Louisiana Civil War general) revolutionized sweet potato production. According to the USDA Agricultural Research Service, this cultivar quickly became dominant due to its exceptional field performance and consumer appeal. Unlike many heirloom varieties, Beauregard delivers consistent results whether you're planting in sandy coastal soils or heavier inland earth.

Beauregard Sweet Potato Timeline: From Research to Market Dominance

The development journey of this popular cultivar reveals why it outperforms alternatives:

  • 1981: Initial cross-breeding begins at LSU's Sweet Potato Research Station
  • 1987: Official release after 6 years of field trials showing superior yield
  • 1990s: Rapid adoption by commercial growers due to disease resistance
  • 2000s: Accounts for 70% of U.S. sweet potato production
  • Present Day: Represents approximately 80% of commercially grown orange-fleshed sweet potatoes nationwide

Physical Characteristics and Flavor Profile

Beauregard sweet potatoes feature distinctive traits that set them apart:

  • Skin color: Smooth, copper-red exterior
  • Flesh color: Vibrant orange throughout
  • Shape: Medium to large, blocky roots with tapered ends
  • Texture: Moist and creamy when cooked
  • Flavor: Naturally sweet with subtle earthy notes
Beauregard sweet potatoes with vibrant orange flesh on wooden table

Beauregard vs. Other Popular Sweet Potato Varieties

Variety Maturity Days Disease Resistance Best Use Storage Life
Beauregard 90-100 High (scurf, fusarium) Baking, roasting, mashing 5-6 months
Jewel 95-100 Moderate General purpose 4-5 months
Covington 100-110 Very high Commercial processing 6+ months
Garnet 90-95 Low Boiling, steaming 3-4 months

When Beauregard Excels (And When to Choose Alternatives)

Understanding context boundaries helps you maximize results with this versatile cultivar:

  • Ideal for: Home gardeners in warm climates, commercial production, baking applications requiring moist texture
  • Limitations: Less suitable for boiling (becomes too watery), performs poorly in cool northern climates with short growing seasons
  • Best companion plants: Beans, peas, and certain herbs that repel sweet potato pests
  • Avoid planting with: Root vegetables like carrots or potatoes that compete for soil nutrients

Nutritional Powerhouse: Verified Health Benefits

Data from the USDA FoodData Central confirms Beauregard's exceptional nutritional profile. A single 130g serving provides:

  • 400% of daily vitamin A requirements (as beta-carotene)
  • 35% of vitamin C needs
  • 15% of daily manganese
  • Significant potassium and dietary fiber

Research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry demonstrates that the specific carotenoid profile in Beauregard sweet potatoes shows superior antioxidant activity compared to many other orange-fleshed varieties.

Proven Growing Techniques for Maximum Yield

Whether you're managing acres or a backyard plot, these evidence-based practices deliver results:

Planting Requirements

  • Soil temperature: Minimum 65°F (18°C) at planting time
  • Soil type: Well-drained sandy loam (pH 5.8-6.2)
  • Spacing: 12-18 inches between plants, 36-42 inches between rows
  • Planting depth: Slips planted with top leaves above soil line

Critical Care Practices

  • Water consistently during first 30 days after planting
  • Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization (promotes vines over roots)
  • Practice crop rotation (don't plant in same location more than 3 years)
  • Monitor for sweet potato weevils using pheromone traps

Culinary Applications: Maximizing Flavor and Texture

Chef Antonio Rodriguez, who has worked with sweet potato varieties across the Americas, recommends these preparation techniques specifically for Beauregard:

  • For baking: Pierce skin and bake at 400°F for 45-60 minutes until fork-tender
  • For roasting: Cut into 1-inch cubes, toss with olive oil and roast at 425°F for 25-30 minutes
  • Avoid boiling: The high moisture content makes boiled Beauregard fall apart
  • Perfect pairing: Complements smoked paprika, cinnamon, and fresh thyme

Storage and Shelf Life Optimization

Unlike many vegetables, sweet potatoes require specific curing and storage conditions. According to LSU AgCenter research:

  • Curing process: 10-14 days at 85-95°F with 85-90% humidity
  • Long-term storage: 55-60°F with 75-80% humidity
  • Refrigeration warning: Never store below 50°F (causes hard spots and off-flavors)
  • Shelf life: Properly cured Beauregard maintains quality for 5-6 months

Where to Find Authentic Beauregard Sweet Potatoes

Look for the distinctive copper-red skin and vibrant orange flesh at:

  • Farmers markets (peak season: October-January)
  • Grocery stores with "Louisiana Sweet Potatoes" branding
  • Certified seed suppliers for home gardeners (search for "certified Beauregard slips")

Be cautious of mislabeled produce—many stores sell Jewel variety as "Beauregard" due to similar appearance. True Beauregard has a more uniform shape and deeper orange flesh.

Troubleshooting Common Growing Challenges

Even experienced growers encounter issues with this popular cultivar. Here's how to address them:

  • Poor root development: Usually caused by excessive nitrogen—switch to balanced fertilizer
  • Cracked roots: Result of irregular watering—maintain consistent moisture
  • Vine decline: Natural process as harvest approaches—don't mistake for disease
  • Storage rot: Caused by improper curing—ensure proper temperature and humidity
Maya Gonzalez

Maya Gonzalez

A Latin American cuisine specialist who has spent a decade researching indigenous spice traditions from Mexico to Argentina. Maya's field research has taken her from remote Andean villages to the coastal communities of Brazil, documenting how pre-Columbian spice traditions merged with European, African, and Asian influences. Her expertise in chili varieties is unparalleled - she can identify over 60 types by appearance, aroma, and heat patterns. Maya excels at explaining the historical and cultural significance behind signature Latin American spice blends like recado rojo and epazote combinations. Her hands-on demonstrations show how traditional preparation methods like dry toasting and stone grinding enhance flavor profiles. Maya is particularly passionate about preserving endangered varieties of local Latin American spices and the traditional knowledge associated with their use.