Sweet potatos

[quizzical1]

We would like to try growing sweet potatos this year. According to the T&M catalogue, these are supplied as "slips".
Firstly, what are slips?
Secondly, could we just buy some sweet potatoes, chit them as for ordinary spuds, and plant them that way?
Have obviously never tried them before and would appreciate any input.
Regards Alan

[quizzical1]

[Doris_Pinks]

Alan I am going to try this as well this year. Found all the info I needed by putting Sweet Potato in the search engine here.

Hope this helps, DP

[manicscousers]

sweet potatoes don't produce chits like potatoes, they have to grow slips..there are, apparently, two ways to do this,
1/ cut a sweet pot in half, insert cocktail sticks in the sides, around the cut edge
put the potato in a glass of water just with the cut bit in water, the slips will grow like leaves on the top and sides of the potato,where there are 'eyes'

2/plant the sweet potato in gritty soil, cover lightly and keep it warm and humid, the slips will grow up through the soil, take off and either put in water 'til they're rooted or plant them up in pots

sue strickland suggests growing them up like tomatoes, the potatoes are produced under the ground   :)

[quizzical1]

Thanks for the info., manicscousers.    Will probably give the first method a try.
BTW, any idea what time of year is best to plant, and do they need to grow in a greenhouse or outdoors? I understand that they need considerable warmth to grow?

[Blue Bird]

Hi Q1
I am going to have a go to grow them - having spoken to a neighbouring plot holder she says she had great success last year growing under black plastic sheeting
good luck with yours

BB ;)

[manicscousers]

sorry about that, my computer's gone wonky
she suggests starting them in early spring, maybe someone's got more idea than me when that is
from the article "sweet potatoes are cold-sensitive but they can be grown outside in the warmest areas of the u k..
elsewhere they need some protection although not necessaily a polytunnel. you could use cold frames or cloches or grow them in large pots started off in a greenhouse or conservatory," 
she reckons they're better grown up, like tomatoes, the potatoes grow under the soil at the base of the plant
hope that helps  :)

[cambourne7]

that might explain why after 2 weeks in water my potato has done nothing

will cut it in half now DOH!

[nenerover]

Hi All,
        don't forget the sweet pot grows very tall just like runnerbeans 8' ft. The slips are about 10" to 12" long and about the thickness of a pencil. They need plenty of water. I tried last year plant early harvest late didn't do very well they needed more attention than I could give them.
Regards Peter

[Blue Bird]

If grown under plastic just let them grow along the ground - you will need some space for them and they should just look after themselves

[Marymary]

Same here Cambourne, WHOLE potato sitting in water for the last 2 weeks - seems to be producing roots though no shoots from the top [though I am a little confused about which way is up.  ???

[manicscousers]

Ahah, just read through the article again, sue starts them into growth in MARCH
, there's no actual up, they're just swollen roots,
sue strickland buries them in a pot, just under the surface of moist, well drained gritty compost,
that's why i've cut them in half, the guy from canada uses this method, cut in half, put just in water with the cocktail sticks in   :)