It would appear so. A sweet potato is actually a root which forms slips on the end nearest the mother plant.

Thanks for the replies.

Joe, I tried cutting the sweet potato in half last year, and all I got was stinky, cloudy water and no sprouts. Some kind folks advised not cutting the sweet potato, leave it whole, which is what I tried here. So you think I'd be ok this time around cutting the tater in half, and placing the sprouting section above the water line?

You must cut them in half. Use toothpicks to suspend each half in the water. You need to use fresh water about every four days, The slips will grow out of the eyes on the potato above the water. It takes about two month to grow the slips.

I have never cut them in half.

Nor do I. Sweet potato

Well I guest we agree to disagree. It is not a root. It is a tuber just like a potato.

I look at what you are showing. That looks like a yam.

I agree with farmer...he is very knowledgeable.

We both have success at the way we do it.

Is R4676 = Redsun under a different user name? Very similar posting "style".

Potato and Sweet Potato are not even in the same family. Sweet Potato is a root. You can disagree all you want to but that won't make you correct.

Didn't mean to start the Great Sweet Potato Debate of '16. :}

Since I couldn't see how the slips would find room to grow in the confined space of the jar, I figured I had nothing to lose so I cut the tater in half, flipped it over, and suspended it in the water with toothpicks as Joe suggested. Looks like I'll have to change the water far more often, as it gets quite cloudy quickly, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that we get plenty of healthy slips using this method.

I'll report back with any developments. Thanks for the input.

I used a white sweet potatoes. Have always did it this way and will continue with this success. Good luck

Well, maybe I'm wrong, but ever since I was a little kid and mom sprouted sweet potatoes, we always just suspended the potato partially in water with toothpicks like raymondo and farmerdill did. No cutting at all. Always have gotten beautiful slips from them. Oh, yes, I'm 72 so that's a lot of years of doing it that way successfully especially if its the wrong way. I'll just keep doing it that way.

Madonna

Well, this is interesting. I was hoping to try sweet potatoes for the first time this year, but I just wanted to grow one or two plants in a large container to see how it goes. I didn't want to order them and spend a lot of money on shipping for such a small experiment. Do you mean I could get a sweet potato from the food store and start it this way? I'm in Massachusetts, zone 6a, and wonder if any old sweet potato in the store will have a short enough growing season for this to work?

I use the white sweet potato from the farm market. Not a yam.

I usually start mine in January and by planting time. May there are plenty of sprouts with roots to cut off and plant. Change the water every three to four days.

Len

So sorry to hear that your husband passed away this month…Madonna. I hope you can find some distraction and comfort in your garden this season.

Thank you, prairiemoon2. Yes, I'm engulfing myself in starting seeds for the garden to keep from being a blubbering puddle. Since the VA gives the surviving spouse less than a half of the vet's disability pension, I feel I should supplement my income with selling produce and hand-crafted items at a couple of the local farmers markets. I'm swimming in seedlings right now. My seed potatoes are just waiting for St. Patrick's Day planting and I hope to get a good harvest of sweet potatoes this year.

It's really tough to make ends meet these days and I wish you much success with your endeavors. Farmer's Markets are a real opportunity for gardeners to use their skills to bring in some money. If you are doing hand crafted items, I wonder if you are aware of the website, 'Etsy'? A great opportunity for selling crafts. I have used it myself a few times. What kind of craft items do you create?

Yes, its tough out there, but I've survive before and I will again, prairiemoon2. I have considered Etsy and might try it when the farmers markets close down for the season. One program that I just found out about today is Homegrown by Heroes. Its assistance for military veterans who want to be farmers. It helps with different programs to educate where needed, assist with funding and signage. Since I'm a Vietnam era veteran, I'm eligible. Hoping to get some help with labeling my preserved items as well.

I make items using recycled fabric, as well as new, and my sewing skills. I've been sewing for 64 years, worked in fabric stores, owned my own for a while, taught sewing and did custom sewing for people. If I do eventually open an Etsy store, I'll let you know.

How fascinating. I would imagine that you are part of a shrinking number of people who can actually sew. That is a long time to have sewn. I love the idea of using recycled fabrics. The current fabrics are so coated in chemicals, it's hard to think of wanting to use them if you didn't have to. Natural materials are not as available as they once were either. I do have a machine but use it infrequently having very minor ability to sew and I always envy anyone who is actually skilled in sewing. I'm always wishing I could slipcover all my upholstered furniture. [g]

And I'm also interested in the program you mention about Homegrown by Heroes. I just love to see any efforts being made to encourage people to grow their own food. I'll have to look into it and see what that is all about.

If you do end up with a website of your own, where you display your crafts or an Etsy page, I would be very interested in seeing what you do. It was nice talking with you and again, have a great growing season!

Welcome Home Brother, I also am a Vietnam Veteran. How did you make out? Any problems. I am dealing with Agent Orange. It really plays havoc with your endocrinology system. My son had a problem at age nine. His adrenal glands were producing to much growth hormones.

Nice to know that you you are into farming. I always wanted to be a farmer. However I was an inter city boy, but I love to grow things.

Len

Welcome home to you, too, Len. I'm a sister, not a brother - no offense taken. I suffer from PTSD due to MST. I was in the Air Force as was my first husband. My husband who just passed was 101st Airborne, a Ranger in Vietnam. He suffered from Agent Orange plus. He was 100% service connected disabled and that's what killed him.

I was raised in the city, but close ancestors farmed. My mother always said I should have been a farmer. My late husband thought I was nuts wanting to grow and preserve food. He said it was so much easier and faster to just go to the grocery and buy whatever you wanted. I love to grow food and preserve it because I know what's on it and in it. Started out with Master Gardener, proceeded to the Advanced Master Gardener class then became a Certified Food Preserver. I'm usually on the cooking and harvest forums.

On the sweet potatoes, thirty years ago when we moved onto our 21 acres I bought healthy sweet potato slips and planted them. Boy was I surprised when they turned out no bigger around than a pencil. There's a lot to learn about so many things.

Madonna

Madonna, I also suffer with PTSD and am 100% disabled. I was diagnosed with Adult Onset Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. Symptoms are difficulty walking, incontinence, and a form of dementia. I had to have a shunt, anti-syphon valve and computer chip implanted in my head to drain excess fluid into my corroded artery. It is no cure but can slow the progression.

Len