How to Grow Sweet Potatoes That Have Sprouted?

Growing sweet potatoes from sprouts, often called "slips," is an excellent and effective method to propagate these nutritious root vegetables right from a store-bought sweet potato. This process leverages the existing growth to establish new, productive plants.

Understanding Sweet Potato Slips

Sweet potato slips are essentially the young sprouts or shoots that emerge from a mature sweet potato. Unlike regular potatoes, sweet potatoes are not grown from potato "eyes" directly planted in the ground. Instead, these slips are rooted in water and then transplanted into soil, ensuring a robust start for your sweet potato crop.

Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Sweet Potato Slips

The journey from a sprouted sweet potato to a bountiful harvest involves several key stages, focusing initially on developing a strong root system from the sprouts.

Step 1: Encouraging Sprouts (If Not Already Sprouted)

If your sweet potato hasn't sprouted yet, you'll need to encourage it. Place a sweet potato in a jar or glass of water, with about half of the potato submerged. Use toothpicks to suspend it if necessary. Place it in a warm, sunny spot. In a few weeks, sprouts will begin to emerge.

Step 2: Separating the Slips

Once the sprouts are several inches long (ideally 4-6 inches), they are ready to be separated from the parent sweet potato. Gently twist or carefully cut each sprout off the sweet potato, ensuring you get a clean break or cut near the potato's surface. Each sprout is now considered a "slip."

Step 3: Rooting the Slips in Water

This is a crucial step for establishing healthy roots before planting in soil.

• Once separated from the sweet potato, place each sprout (slip) in a container, such as a shallow bowl or glass.
• Ensure the bottom half of the stem is submerged in water.
• The leaves should hang out over the rim of the container.
• Alternatively, if you're attempting to root sprouts while they are still attached to the potato, you can lay each sprout in a shallow bowl with the bottom half of the stem submerged in water and the leaves hanging out over the rim of the bowl.

Change the water every few days to keep it fresh and prevent mold. Within 1-2 weeks, you should start to see roots forming from the submerged portion of the stem. Wait until the roots are well-developed, usually about an inch long, before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4: Hardening Off the Slips

Before transplanting your slips into the garden, it's beneficial to "harden them off." This process gradually acclimatizes them to outdoor conditions, reducing transplant shock. Over a week, gradually expose the slips to increasing amounts of outdoor sunlight and wind. Start with an hour or two in a sheltered, shady spot, and incrementally increase exposure each day.

Step 5: Planting in Soil

Sweet potatoes thrive in warm weather and full sun.

• Timing: Plant your slips outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and when soil temperatures consistently reach at least 60°F (15°C).
• Location: Choose a spot that receives full sun (at least 6-8 hours daily).
• Soil: Sweet potatoes prefer loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage.
• Planting: Plant the slips about 10-12 inches apart in rows that are 3-4 feet apart. Bury the slip deep enough so that at least half of the stem is covered, leaving the leaves exposed above ground. Water thoroughly immediately after planting.

Essential Care for Sweet Potato Plants

Once planted, sweet potatoes are relatively low-maintenance but benefit from consistent care.

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the first few weeks after planting and during dry spells. Avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to rot.
• Fertilizing: Sweet potatoes are not heavy feeders. A balanced fertilizer can be applied when the plants are young, but avoid excessive nitrogen, which can promote leafy growth at the expense of root development.
• Weed Control: Keep the planting area free of weeds, especially when plants are young, as weeds compete for nutrients and water. Once the vines spread, they will naturally suppress most weeds.
• Pest and Disease Management: Sweet potatoes are generally resistant to many pests and diseases, but monitor for common garden issues like sweet potato weevils or fungal diseases. Healthy soil and proper spacing can help prevent many problems.

Harvesting Your Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are typically ready for harvest 90-120 days after planting the slips, depending on the variety.

• When to Harvest: Look for signs like the leaves and vines turning yellow and beginning to die back, typically after the first light frost.
• How to Harvest: Carefully dig up the tubers to avoid damaging them. Use a garden fork or spade, starting about 12-18 inches away from the main stem to avoid puncturing the potatoes. Gently loosen the soil around the plant and lift the potatoes.
• Curing: After harvesting, cure the sweet potatoes by placing them in a warm (80-85°F / 27-29°C), humid place for 1-2 weeks. This process allows the skin to toughen and converts starches to sugars, improving flavor and storage life.

By following these steps, you can successfully transform a sprouted sweet potato into a thriving plant, providing you with your own home-grown harvest. For more details on sweet potato cultivation, consider consulting reliable gardening resources like your local extension office.