Sweet Potato Slips: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Own

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Sweet Potato Slips: A Comprehensive Guide to Growing Your Own

Introduction

Sweet potatoes, unlike regular potatoes, are not grown from seeds. Instead, they are propagated from slips, which are essentially rooted sprouts. Growing sweet potato slips is not difficult, and it can be a fun and rewarding experience. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to grow sweet potato slips, both in water and in dirt.

What is a Sweet Potato Slip?

A sweet potato slip is simply a sprout that has grown from a mature sweet potato. When a sweet potato is placed in a warm, moist environment, it will begin to sprout. These sprouts can then be used to grow new sweet potato plants.

Materials You’ll Need

To grow sweet potato slips, you will need the following materials:

• Organic sweet potatoes
• Water
• Toothpicks
• Germination mat or warm place
• Seedless soil mix or potting soil
• Container or bed
• Fertilizer

How to Grow Sweet Potato Slips in Water

Growing sweet potato slips in water is a simple and effective method. Here are the steps:

1. Submerge half of a sweet potato in water, with the root end down.
2. Use toothpicks to keep the entire potato from becoming submerged.
3. Place the sweet potato in water on a germination mat or atop the refrigerator.
4. Keep an eye on the water and replenish it as needed.
5. In a few weeks, you should see the beginnings of roots.
6. A week or so later, sprouts should begin to form.
7. Once the sprouts are 5 to 6 inches long, it is time to move on to the next step.

How to Grow Sweet Potato Slips in Dirt

Growing sweet potato slips in dirt is another option. Here are the steps:

1. Lay a sweet potato lengthwise on a bed of seedless soil mix or potting soil.
2. Bury half the sweet potato in the medium.
3. Keep the soil moist and in a warm place or atop a germination mat.
4. Once the sprouts are 5 to 6 inches long, it is time to move on to the next step.

Transplanting Sweet Potato Slips

Once the sprouts are 5 to 6 inches long, it is time to transplant them into individual containers or a garden bed. Here are the steps:

1. Gently remove the sprouts from the sweet potato by twisting or cutting them off.
2. Remove the lower leaves from the sprout.
3. Place the partially denuded sprout in water in a warm area with plenty of sunlight or with a grow light.
4. Keep the water replenished as needed.
5. Once the roots are 4 inches long, it is time to plant them.
6. Plant your slips 12 to 18 inches apart and 4 inches deep.
7. Water the plants in well and feed them with a fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus.

Harvesting Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are ready to harvest when the vines begin to turn yellow and die back. Dig up the potatoes carefully, taking care not to damage them. Allow the potatoes to cure in a warm, dry place for a few weeks before storing them.

Tips for Growing Sweet Potato Slips

• Use organic sweet potatoes to avoid any chemical treatments that may inhibit sprouting.
• Keep the sweet potatoes in a warm, moist environment.
• Be patient, as it can take several weeks for sprouts to form.
• Once the sprouts have formed, make sure to give them plenty of sunlight or artificial light.
• Water the slips regularly, but avoid overwatering.
• Fertilize the slips once a week with a balanced fertilizer.

Conclusion

Growing sweet potato slips is a rewarding experience that can provide you with a bountiful harvest of delicious, nutritious sweet potatoes. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily grow your own sweet potato slips and enjoy the fruits of your labor.