sweet potato update

[manicscousers]

slips coming along on one, still tiny on the other  ;D

[manicscousers]

[Jitterbug]

I have one slip - still on poatoe though - I am too scared to pull it off yet.  There is another two popped out but still very small.

Jitterbug

[cornykev]

I checked mine a while ago and one slips grown up the plastic bottle and through the lid hole,they are between my radiator and my veg trolley of seedlings so I will check them all properly after I've had my minted lamb chops. :P     ;D ;D ;D

[Biscombe]

Looking good Manics!! great to have pics! I MUST have a go at sweet pots!

[debster]

both of mine have slips but they are all small except one but really pleased so far

[manicscousers]

only 2 of them have roots on, do I take them off yet or leave them a while longer, do they need to have roots ?..the ones we got from T&M last year didn't have any  :)

[Eristic]

I think some of you are worryiing too much. If the slip is a reasonable length with a leaf or two, take it off and plant it up in a small pot. Don't wait for it to form roots while on the tuber although it's a bonus if they produce roots for you. The sooner the big shoots are removed the sooner the small buds will develop into more slips.

[debster]

ok cool

[manicscousers]

thanks, eristic, job for tomorrow  ;D

[debster]

can you just remind me how to take them off the spud

[Eristic]

I just push them off with a finger or thumbnail. Not sure if there is a right or wrong way but normally they part company easily, but there is always the odd stubborn one that needs a harder push. They all root within a few days once planted in the compost.

It should be noted that commercial companies would take slips from mature plants grown in a hothouse rather than messing about with tubers.

[PJW_Letchworth]

Have I left it too late to put the sweet potato in water?

Can I use a potato from the supermarket?

When the slips grow, I understand I'd need to plant them up.  How long before they can go into the plot?

So many questions  :o , I should apologise!

[Eristic]

So many questions  Shocked , I should apologise!

No. Questions are what makes a website into a forum.

The tubers I use come from the local shop and I don't think they are any different to the slips sold at extortionate prices by seed firms. There should still be time particularly with the orange coloured ones which tend to shoot fast. Try asking a neighbour if they have a hairy one tucked in the back of the cupboard.

Before the growing plants are planted out in open ground on the lotty conditions must be really warm, mid June or later, but could go out under protection once all danger of frost has gone. I planted a few in the polytunnel several weeks ago and still have 2 surviving though they would have been happier if they'd stayed at home.

The biggest problem is that if they do not get a good long hot spell there will not be any tubers of edible size before cold weather sets in and kyboshes them.

[saddad]

I cheat and Buy mine which reminds me... I haven't ordered any yet...  :-[ I'm off to do it now!!!!
:o

[PJW_Letchworth]

Thanks Eristic, I've just put the spare sweet potato I had in the cupboard suspended in a glass with the end just in the water.  How long should it be before the slips start to form?

I have fingers crossed and I'm hoping for shoots!  ;D

[caseylee]

I have very small shoot on mine and they have been like that for ages, do they really take that long to form the shoots or have I done it wrong

[cornykev]

Last year mine took forever, so I've put mine next to the radiater and put bottle tops over them, as per Scousers advise  ;) and they've come up a lot quicker this year, one slip is nearly 11 inches tall with 4/5 leaves not quite formed yet, is this too tall ? .     ;D ;D ;D

[manicscousers]

don't know,ck..I've now cut off 3 slips, as  per eristic's advice and planted them in compost, back on the windowsill now  ;D
the ones from T & M had maybe 3 or 4 leaves on and were about 6 or 7 inches tall, just means you'll have a very tall vine..you can bury them, they get more roots from the stem

[cornykev]

OK thanks for that.  ;D ;D ;D