Sweet Potato - Growing your own slips

[cambourne7]

Hi Guys & Galls,

Having failed to grow my own slips last year i have decided to try again. I picked up some sweet potatoes for a meal at new years and i found one i failed to use in a drawer which i had put on the window ledge with the idea of sticking it in a jar of water however gone back to it and its already started to sprout  ;D

I know its early to start but as nature has already begun the process, i am not 100% certain what to now for the best. Should i put it in water?

Cambourne7

Further Reading see

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,16966.0/topicseen,topicseen

[cambourne7]

[Jitterbug]

Cambourne

I tried both methods last year and the one I put in a tray of compost really sprouted well and the plantlets seemed stronger.  I however did not manage to get them planted (after all that) so already have one in the water and the roots are starting - I would just let nature do what it does best!

Jitterbug

[cambourne7]

:) good plan!

[miniroots]

I'm going to give them a go too this year...

[caroline7758]

I bought some from Tesco today- having seen the price of them in T&M catalogue it's worth another try!

[manicscousers]

mine are developing roots, they weren't as fast developing last year, I've bought organic, cut in half, balanced in water with a cut down pop bottle over the top, maybe the extra warmth is helping ?  :)

[hazelize_uk]

Sorry if im being dosey but its been a long day! I've just bought some organic ones from Asda and stuck them pointy end down in a jar which is what i thought i'd seen in a pic somewhere on here last year.  I wish i could find it as i'm sure it showed the pics step by step.  Anyway when you say you've cut them in half do you mean the cut side is then the one dangling in the water?  :-\

[manicscousers]

yes, from a mag article..cocktail sticks holding them, tried the soil way last year, didn't get many slips from it so I'm trying it this way  ;D
I know what you mean about a long day,  ;D

[Riffster]

I tried one 2 weeks back - having been about 5 months too late last year for actual root crop results !
and now have some slips.   I just now have to keep them in pots for another 3 months :-(
But at least they will have growing time this year!