sweet potato (again)

[bedrockdave]

my sweet potatoes have done absolutely nothing ,I suppose its because its because its been so cold and wet here in the welsh valleys, they are only about 6 ins high , I have surrounded them with clear  plastic sheeting for protection ,they look healthy enough but have not grown . What I was wondering is it possible to save the plants inside for next year or take cuttings, £13 for 10 slips and get nothing seems a bit of a waste,
    :(hope someone can help

[bedrockdave]

[thifasmom]

Hmmm i would like to know are you growing yours outdoors as i would like to try this next year, I know in the West Indies we woud stick a couple into some sandy type soil and just leave it be, when ever it started to produce tubers, we would harvest as and when, pretty much for years. I think its not frost hardy (correct me please if I'm wrong), so my question is, if its grown in a polytunnel do you think it would last as a perinnial plant?

[bedrockdave]

theyre outside in well drained soil with plenty of organic matter

[ksia]

Mine are the same here in France.
I'll be keeping them warm and cosy in situ outside (in frame) and hope for better next year.

[Kea]

I didn't have much luck last year it was too wet and cold.

[artichoke]

Most of mine were kept over the winter in pots indoors, and the rest are from sprouts from last year's potatoes. Some died, most lived.

Some of them were rooted cuttings made by cutting off the tips of the tall plants outside just before the first frosts, putting them in water and potting them up when they made roots.

They are outside at the moment (Sussex) and growing fairly well and flowering, but I don't think they are as tall and robust as last year; I suppose the cold and rain are not to their liking. Last year was cool and wet as well, but I was very pleased with my first crop.