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Some time ago when doing my shopping I saw on shop shelf one sweet potato which had little growth on it..so just for fun I bought it..pop it in water and these little..and I mean tiny...growth swell a bit and then never did anything else..
couple of days ago I decided to get rid of the s.potato but for some reason still tried to scrape the 2 growing points off and I pushed them in jiffys..
And HEI PRESTO!..two day later I can see 2 roots growing out of them..they are bigger than the tops..cannot even see any leaves yet.. ::)
The roots have actually pushed the top bits out of the compost..
Now after all that I don't have heart not to grow them. Last years bought slips didn't do much at all..It would be sods law if I were to do better with these.. ::)

Quote from: goodlife on April 23, 2010, 20:15:07
Some time ago when doing my shopping I saw on shop shelf one sweet potato which had little growth on it..so just for fun I bought it..pop it in water and these little..and I mean tiny...growth swell a bit and then never did anything else..
couple of days ago I decided to get rid of the s.potato but for some reason still tried to scrape the 2 growing points off and I pushed them in jiffys..
And HEI PRESTO!..two day later I can see 2 roots growing out of them..they are bigger than the tops..cannot even see any leaves yet.. ::)
The roots have actually pushed the top bits out of the compost..
Now after all that I don't have heart not to grow them. Last years bought slips didn't do much at all..It would be sods law if I were to do better with these.. ::)

Sooo Goodlife, whatever happened. I lay awake nights wondering how this story ended ;D

Lets hope GL logs on today and tells us the rest of the story. :)

 ;D Gosh..you do dig some old stuff up..well...what I can remember from my experience..
The 'potato' kept producing and producing slips all spring..until I was up to my eye balls with 'babies'.
And yes, the tiny 'eyes' did make into good size plants....but..it was the growing on bit that failed.
I planted mine into GH..and did my best..only to end up with half a dozen thumb size tubers.. ::)..which is better than any of my bought in slips have ever done.. ::)
I'm not waisting my time with sweet potatoes again..unless I'm desperate for another challenge. I rather grow some squashes that I can use almost same way... ;)
GA...I do apologize keeping you awake for over a year now..you may go to bed now and snore away...sleep well.. :-* ;)

In Zimbabwe sweet potato was grown in every back yard by the Africans. Slips were taken, planted in a mound of soil and waste rubbish like compost sort of stuff and left for months at a time and he presto.... many sweet juicy sweet potatoes were harvested. The next crop started as the other was growing on so always had a crop to dig from.. They were much sweeter than what we can get here.. Note to self: try to get some sent over..

Ah but what is the climate like in Zimbabwe

If your climate won't grow sweet potatoes, you might like trying "Confection" winter squash which tastes very similar to sweet potatoes, same orange color and even has similar texture to a starch, not stringy.  There is another squash out there which also claims same but I've not tried it. Have grown Confection two years now and will try next yr. to increase the harvest.

Quote from: lottie lou on October 31, 2011, 21:52:32
Ah but what is the climate like in Zimbabwe

Hot, sunny with rain only in summer. 

you might like trying "Confection" winter squash which tastes very similar to sweet potatoes
;D Oh good..thanks for that! I was just 'window' shopping for some squash seeds..but my selfinduced shopping ban still sticks.. ::)..don't know how long though..with good suggestions like that.. ;)..I have to scribble that name down to my 'must have' list.. ;D
Did you sleep better?  ;D

In Zimbabwe sweet potato was grown in every back yard by the Africans
Just other day I talked to a guy who left Zimbabwe some years back..he had farming backround. I gave him a pumpkin to carve for Halloween and we started talking about his life back then.
He was fondly remembering some Little Gem squashes that was his favourite..he was wondering about getting some seeds to grow. I've sourced some from UK and I suspect he is going to be 'Happy Larry' when I tell him the news.. ;D
Gavin..do you think the sweetness of the sweet potatoes over there is result of the variety, climate or just the 'rosy' memories.. ;) Did they look different for the varieties that are sold over here?

i've also had a disheartening outcome from my July-planted slips this yr (Jamie Oliver 'Beaureguard' only 20p in clearance) tho' i kinda expected it really. i've saved the 25 slips (out of 3) and hopefully, overwinter these and try again properly.

Sweet potato is one of few plants that gives me grief when trying to get it crop.. >:( I've tried Beaureguard before..and it didn't do anything... ::) suppose we all have at least one crop that doesn't 'agree' with us.  Oh why won't it grow like bindweed..I'm brilliant with that.. ::) :-X

i knew that they're a lot of bother to grow in the UK, but I seriously wasn't expecting such a abysmal result; the tubers were puny >:( maybe it's our climate in not being continuously hot enough and watered enough.. what do think?

Hi Goodlife & Irridium... Climate would do a lot for them..  I think they were also different variety as they look similar but they are all just longish tubers. We had a reddish and a white variety, some with pale flesh and some with yellow flesh.  They had a smoother texture and were a lot sweeter. Dont really know what the difference could be.   

I LOVE my gemsquash.. have you bought the see yet - would you like more? I get packs sent over and grow it every year.. It is rather pricey here.

Quote from: goodlife on November 01, 2011, 07:28:41

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you might like trying "Confection" winter squash which tastes very similar to sweet potatoes
;D Oh good..thanks for that! I was just 'window' shopping for some squash seeds..but my selfinduced shopping ban still sticks.. ::)..don't know how long though..with good suggestions like that.. ;)..I have to scribble that name down to my 'must have' list.. ;D
Did you sleep better?  ;D

Thank you, slept much better remembering why I needn't bash my head against a stone wall trying to grow sweet potatoes :)

I LOVE my gemsquash.. have you bought the see yet - would you like more?
I'll send you a PM.. ;) ;D

you might like trying "Confection" winter squash which tastes very similar to sweet potatoes
Found it!.. ;D http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/veg4B.htm
My seed shopping ban is still on..but I've wrote myself shopping list now..and this one is on it.. ;) ;D
Ohh...how bit of spending money can burn a hole in a pocket.. ::)..outch.. ;D

I sent you a reply PM...