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Gardening

IDemo

(16,926 posts) Sun Jun 21, 2015, 09:28 AM Jun 2015

Starting sweet potatoes

I have been attempting to get some sweet potato slips using the method described here. My shoots have grown 9 to 11" high, yet show no sign of developing the small red nodules with roots at the base between shoot and potato. It is getting a bit late in the season to let them continue for too much longer if they are going to need a 4 month growing season, so I'm wondering if I can just carefully cut out sections of potato containing a shoot and plant them directly, or even just plant the entire potato half - or would that result in too dense a thicket of potatoes in the ground?

4 replies

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Starting sweet potatoes (Original Post) IDemo Jun 2015 OP

It's good when you can get the slips on the edge of the potato, but most times I just go to... dmosh42 Jun 2015 #1

I will probably do that IDemo Jun 2015 #2

as long as you have roots you are good. mopinko Jun 2015 #3

I planted them and they look happy to be in the soil IDemo Jun 2015 #4

dmosh42

(2,217 posts)

1. It's good when you can get the slips on the edge of the potato, but most times I just go to...

Reply to IDemo (Original post)

Sun Jun 21, 2015, 10:09 AM

Jun 2015

the base and do a 'V' cut down into the potato. Then I take that slip and plant the whole plant, leaves and all, underground, with just the last leaf on top sticking above ground. I usually put mine in the ground around tomato planting time in early May here in NC. Good luck!

IDemo

(16,926 posts)

2. I will probably do that

Reply to dmosh42 (Reply #1)

Sun Jun 21, 2015, 02:46 PM

Jun 2015

I'm not sure if the lack of the red buds at the base of the stems was due to being a different breed of potato, or what.

Thanks for the advice!

mopinko

(72,862 posts)

3. as long as you have roots you are good.

Reply to IDemo (Original post)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 12:07 AM

Jun 2015

get them going. it is late. they will be fine.
i bought slips after failing to get sprouts, and they mostly barely even had roots.
all doing great now.

IDemo

(16,926 posts)

4. I planted them and they look happy to be in the soil

Reply to mopinko (Reply #3)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 12:18 AM

Jun 2015

Hopefully they will have enough of a growing season before the October frost to produce some decent sized tubers.

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