Did you get those sprouted potatoes as seed potatoes, or are they grocery store potatoes? If they're grocery store potatoes, then your results might be variable. I had a bag of sprouted grocery store potatoes once and thought that since they'd already sprouted, that whatever sprout-inhibitor the growers spray on them had worn off or quit working. I planted them. Some came up in a few weeks as they were expected to and some came up in several weeks, some came up after two or three months and some never came up at all. None of them grew as vigorously as potatoes planted from seed potatoes. Whatever sprout-inhibitor gets sprayed on grocery store potatoes, it doesn't stop working entirely just because the potatoes sprout. Given my experience, I'll never plant from grocery store potatoes again. Even if they sprout like crazy, I'll just toss them in the compost. I'd rather use my garden space for something more reliable. As for general potato advice, I've found it helpful to plant radishes on top of the potato hills. About the time the radishes are ready to pull, the potatoes are breaking through. This also keeps me from digging up a potato each week to see how they're doing. Otherwise, as shebear says, I drive myself nuts wondering.

Thanks all, Strange as it may be sounds like a high speed electric with a light line might be what I need for my trimming. I guess it's this wussy city grass that's causing my headaches (I remember shredding through my fair share of heavy grass and weeds around fence posts in my youth out in the country which is why I was so surprised at the lack of results with my recent return to a gas trimmer). Maybe I'll try to borrow my friends gas trimmer (not an echo mind you) and try it with some lighter line as well. If it works better maybe I'll try the echo again. Again, thanks for the suggestions.

I'll chime in. At the very least I'd pot it up with 1/2 good Miracle Grow potting soil (not the one with the moisture-control crystals), and 1/2 perlite, since perlite's easy to find. That much perlite should solve your drainage issues. Yes, I usually mix 1/2 potting soil, 1/4 perlite, 1/4 Aquatic Plant Soil (in pond supply area). All found at local Home Depot. Wish I could find pumice here. Place your plant in part sun for several weeks or until it really gets going. The tender stem can sunburn in full sun. This year I'm going to try potting up some of mine with the addition of 'Clay Buster' (or Breaker, or something like that) -- which consists of gypsum and pine bark fines, and is used as a soil additive to loosen up clay soils. It's cheap and will make the potting soil go a lot further. Anyone tried that? Yup, I'd use a one-gallon plastic pot and then pot up around late July/August if you see roots thru the drainage holes.

you could have just cut it to the ground ... and it will come back.. sooner or later.. or next year ... many are powdery mildew magnets ... i dont know if there are resistant ones.. but i have always loved the pleasant fresh scent ... perennial forum if you want to learn more about them ... ken