You can either do as you have suggested, which is what I do, (or rather did because they won't grow where I am now) or remove the slips from the tuber and plant those. They root quite readily. That's what is meant, usually, by planting slips. Water them well and keep them moist and shaded until they're obviously growing. You can, if you wish, strike the slips in a glass of water before planting out. For ease of access to them at harvest, the soil shoul be quite friable. If it's heavy clay, mix in plenty of organic matter. Adding sand is also good but it's more expensive than organic matter (dried grass clippings and so on). Mix in some mature compost as well.
Ray

Do you have to plant the sweet potato in some sand and wait for it to shoot, or can you simply plant it direct in the soil? I tried the latter, and found the tubers rotted before any shoots developed. (I may have answered my own question.)

I've tried planting direct too. Very few came up, one in fact! So I just kept taking slips, striking them in a glass of water, then planting them out. Alas, can't grow sweet potato here. Season's just not long enough.

OK so I'll show my ignorance here.... What are "slips"? does this mean bits of the sweet potatoe around where the shoots have come up?

Very interested in giving them a go. Is it too late to start them now for planting this season around Sydney?

Slips are cuttings of the viny part. Stick a tuber in some moist sand and bingo, it'll start growing. Take cuttings and away you go. I would have thought that it would still be alright to plant them up where you are. Pick up a few at the supermarket.

I reckon I might try a couple in a box of sand and put it on the heat mat. How do think this would go Ray?

Richard, with your green thumbs you could just put the tuber in a box and it would grow. Actually, it would probably work well but if the temps are high enough down your way a heat mat would be overkill.

I've heard that the supermarket sweet potatoes are sometimes sprayed to prevent sprouting. It may be best to buy organic ones for sprouting (?)...

I've heard that too but have never had any trouble with supermarket ones.

We are still getting down around zeros at night here Ray, so , I think I will try the heat mat. Cant hurt eh.
Mantis * off to do just that *

Zero! Sounds like Armidale, though the days are pretty warm.

Yeah, having to cover the tommys every night lately. Weird spring down here thats for sure. Last Friday was the coldest day we have had this year. jees

We had frost the last 3 mornings! And most of my babies are in the ground. I hope they are fine. It'll most likely set them back quite a bit. What a bummer! This is not supposed to happen at this time of the year.

Here in Tassie there is a tradition not to plant out anything fragile until after Rememberance Day - 11th November. Mind you we once had snow in December! I am definitely going to try the slips idea, even in a colder climate. It will be interesting to see how we all go with this in different locations.
Cheers
Linda

Many years ago we had a very severe frost on Dec 1. It killed thousands of newly shawn sheep down in the western districts. Freezes their kidneys apparently. My God they must have been in agony. Sorry hope this doesn't give anyone nightmares.
Mantis *off to turn up the heater brrrr*

Thankyou all for your help!
Raymondo how do you strike the vine slips in water?
Thanks kylie

Cut or pull them from the tuber, remove some of the lower leaves and pop them in a glass of water. Also just try a few stuck directly into the ground where you want them to grow, water them in and cover with a bit of mulch - a handful of weeds will do.
Hope this helps.

Have some very healthy looking shoots from the two tubers I put in .
How big should I let them get before pulling them off and putting in water. Some have leaves about as big as a 20 cent coin.
if I just prick them off and root them in water , will the tuber continue to put up more shoots??

Hi Ray,

Is it Ok to grow the sweet potato up in BrisVegas at this time of year...or do you think it is too hot now?

g'day dan,

once they are growing it is never too hot for them and to keep them going through winter heavily mulch them to keep ground warm.

len

mail len

lens garden page

Richard, I'd try cutting them anywhere from about 10cm long. Hi Daniel, nice to read you here again. As Len says, they love the heat.

Thanks Len and Ray. I will have to get hold of some.

Hi Guys
People do grow them here in Tas quite successfully so don't be discouraged Ray and Linda
I have planted about 15 tubers around two or three weeks ago...no sign yet...I reckon they be mouldy as a dead possum so thanks for the info guys...a great help....I will try again next week
cheers
Peter